Vanuatu Women Pull Off Sensational Comeback to Beat Samoa

Rayline Ova (L) took 5-13 (4) and Rachel Andrew scored 56 (62)

Ova, and (five) out! A five-fer for Rayline as Rachel Andrew goes back-to-back. 

In one of the most dramatic comebacks in recent memory, Vanuatu Women pulled off a thrilling 9-run win over Samoa in Port Moresby on Thursday.

Defending a modest total of 102, Vanuatu looked all but out of the contest as Samoa cruised to 75 for 1. But a stunning collapse followed, with Samoa losing their last nine wickets for just 18 runs to be bowled out for 93 in the 19th over.

Skipper Rachel Andrew was instrumental with the bat, anchoring Vanuatu’s innings with a composed 56 off 62 balls, her second half-century in as many games. She found brief support from Nasimana Navaika, who made 22 from 33 deliveries, as the pair combined for a 42-run stand. Despite a flurry of late wickets—including Andrew falling in the penultimate over—the total crept past 100, giving Vanuatu something to bowl at.

Samoa’s chase began steadily, with Faaiuga Poutu (23 off 45) and Taalili Iosefo (35 off 25) guiding them into a strong position. At 75 for 1, victory seemed inevitable. But Vanuatu’s bowlers had other ideas. Vicky Mansale removed Iosefo to break the partnership, and from there the momentum shifted completely.

Rayline Ova ripped through the lower order with a sensational spell, taking 5 for 13 from just 3.3 overs—including five of the last six wickets. Vanessa Vira was once again miserly with 1 for 6 from her four overs, while Mansale (2 for 34) and Navaika (1 for 17) chipped in at crucial moments.

With Samoa collapsing under pressure and Vanuatu’s energy lifting in the field, the final wickets tumbled in a flurry. Ova sealed the match with the last wicket in the 19th over, sparking celebrations for a win that will be remembered one of the great fightbacks in the history of Vanuatu cricket, if not all international cricket.

Rachel Andrew scored back-to-back half centuries against Australian Indigenous & Samoa

Vanuatu go down to PNG despite another excellent bowling effort

Today, in yet another performance which highlights the frustrating disparity between Vanuatu’s bowling and batting performances, the side again went down to world ranked number 13 team, the PNG Lewas.

In a carbon copy of the performance on Monday, Vanuatu restricted PNG to 98 from their 20 overs.

This included remarkable economy rates from Vanessa Vira (2-4) and Thursday’s hero Rayline Ova (1-6) from their full spells of four overs each.

Vicky Mansale was the chief destroyer taking three wickets from her spell, conceding 31 runs. 

Again let down by a lack of discipline with direction, there were 14 wides, including nine of those during the first six-over powerplay.

The Vanuatu chase, again, started well enough with the score at 35 in the seventh over only one wicket down, but a flurry of wickets followed, including at least one questionable LBW, and another dismissal when the batter appeared not to be ready yet, left the chase in tatters at 48 for 6 with one ball remaining in the 11thover.

The impressive leg spin of Isabel Toua was again too much for the Vanuatu right-handers having opener Nasimana Navaika stumped for 7 (10), and bowling Susan Stephen (6) and Mahina Tarimial (0) to finish with 3-8 from her full complement of overs.

PNG ran out winners by 31 runs in the end as Vanuatu were dismissed for 67 in 16.4 overs.

Vanuatu’s final match is against the Australian Indigenous side in tomorrow’s morning game, starting at 10.30 AM VUT.

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