Chilia sisters shine as Bulls Stampede to Victory In Port Vila Womens T20 Championship

Alvina Chilia starred for the Bulls in their win over the Paama Sharks

In a commanding display of all-round cricket, the Splashe Mele Bulls Women triumphed over the Paama Sharks Women by 46 runs at Independence Park in round three of the Port Vila T20 Womens Club Championship. The Bulls' blend of disciplined batting and lethal bowling proved too much for the Sharks, who struggled to mount a substantial challenge in their chase.

Opting to bat first, the Splashe Mele Bulls Women posted a competitive total of 135 for 8 in their 20 overs. The innings was masterfully anchored by their captain, AT Chilia, whose composed 47 off 41 balls was the backbone of the Bulls' innings. Theresa Mansale opened the innings with aggression, striking a brisk 27 off 20 balls and setting the tone early for the Bulls. Gillian Chilia provided stability with a crucial 23 off 26 balls, forming a pivotal partnership with the captain. Despite a few hiccups in the middle order, the Bulls managed to keep the scoreboard moving, aided by 19 extras from the Sharks' bowlers. Leading from the front, Vanessa Vira took 3 for 20 in her four overs, applying consistent pressure on the Bulls' batters. Shalinda Reve and Maeva Vira both picked up two wickets each, but the lack of support from other bowlers allowed the Bulls to reach a strong total.

Chasing a target of 136, the Paama Sharks Women faltered, managing only 89 runs before being bowled out in 13 overs. Despite a spirited effort from Vanessa Vira, who scored a valiant 30 off 20 balls, the Sharks fell well short of the target. Vanessa's aggressive knock, featuring five boundaries, was the lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal batting performance. Maeva Vira chipped in with 9 off 13 balls, but the lack of partnerships proved costly. A phenomenal spell from Theresa Mansale saw her claim 4 wickets for just 7 runs, dismantling the Sharks' middle and lower order. Miliana Mansale and Gillian Chilia were equally impressive, with Miliana taking 3 for 21 and Gillian claiming 3 for 12.

The early dismissals of NK Kakor and Susan Stephen by Miliana Mansale set the tone for the Bulls' dominance. The Sharks' middle order crumbled under pressure, unable to form any substantial partnerships. Theresa Mansale’s match-winning spell was crucial in breaking the back of the Sharks' batting lineup, leading to their rapid collapse.

In the other match of the round, Tafea Sandalwood secured a straightforward victory by forfeit over the North Efate Bushpigs. This result further solidifies Tafea's strong standing in the league and adds to their momentum as they continue their campaign. The Bushpigs, unfortunately, were unable to field a team, leading to an automatic win for Tafea.

STANDINGS

	Team	Pld	W	L	T	Abd	Bye	Pts	NRR
1	Splashe Mele Bulls, Splashe Mele Bulls Women	2	2	0	0	0	1	6.0	+2.480
2	Tafea Sandalwood, TS Women	3	2	1	0	0	0	6.0	-0.873
3	Paama Sharks, Women	3	1	2	0	0	1	3.0	-1.238
4	North Efate Bush Pigs, NE Women	2	1	1	0	0	0	3.0	-3.083
5	Ifira Black Birds, IBB Women	2	0	2	0	0	1	0.0	-3.730

MVP STANDINGS:

Rank	Player	Club	Matches	Batting	Bowling	Fielding	Overall
1	Vanessa Vira	Paama Sharks	3	4.81	22.27	0.0	27.08
2	Theresa Mansale	Splashe Mele Bulls	1	3.36	13.76	0.0	17.12
3	Gillian Chilia	Splashe Mele Bulls	2	6.84	7.06	2.67	16.56