The Lewas and the Pacific Cup winners trophy
Papua New Guinea completed a perfect Pacific Cup as they were crowned champions of the inaugural tournament on Thursday.
The Lewas finished as comprehensively as they started, defeating Samoa by ten wickets before the final match against Vanuatu was washed out on the third and final day of action.
In the day's other completed morning match, Vanuatu were too strong for Fiji, securing the home side second place.
PNG's Naoani Vare was adjudged player of the tournament as well as best batter (225 runs) as teammate Isabel Toua (11 wickets) won the bowling award.
Day Two Results:
PNG 50/0 (4.5 overs) Vare 25* (16) defeated Samoa 49 (16.3) Toua 3-7 (4) ) by 10 wickets.
The Lewas made light work of Samoa in their first match on day three chasing down the target of 50 in less than five overs without losing a wicket.
The Samoan wickets were shared among four PNG bowlers with Isabel Toua the pick with 3-7 from four overs. Naoani Vare was 25 not out from 16 deliveries run the chase belting five boundaries in the process.
Player of the match: Isabel Toua (PNG)
Player of the Tournament Naoani Vare scored 225 runs
Vanuatu 150/6 (20) Langiatu 55 (49), Solman 50* (44), Vakuruivalu 2-33 (4) defeated Fiji 86/9 (20) Waqavakatoga 20 (40), Navaika 3-13 (4 by 64 runs.
Half centuries from Valenta Langiatu and Selina headlined a comeback victory for Vanuatu after losing both matches on day two.
Langiatu was in solid form as opener but saw a flurry of wickets at the other end including two run outs leaving the hosts at 41 for 4 in the seventh over. Solman strode to the crease and the two set about rebuilding the innings, putting on 69 in 9.3 overs before Langiatu was bowled. Having played the support role in the partnership with Langiatu with 17 from 28, Solman went into attack mode scoring 33 from the 16 deliveries faced after the fifth wicket fell, completing a half century with a two from the final ball of the innings as Vanuatu's score also reached 150.
Ilisapeci Waqavakatoga was again steady at the top of the order for Fiji with 20 from 40 but the tourists could not keep up with the required rate, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Fiji finished on 86 for 9 with Langiatu and Andrew all collecting two wickets each and Nasimana Navaika taking 3-13 from 4.
Player of the match: Valenta Langiatu (Vanuatu)
Samoa 120/2 (17) Lui Nono 57* (54) match abandoned with Fiji.
PNG 154/4 (18.4 overs) Ruma 48 (41), Vare 35 (30) Solman 1-26 (4) match abandoned with Vanuatu.
Final Points Table
Team | Matches | Won | Lost | N/R | Points | NRR |
PNG | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 11 | +6.229 |
Vanuatu | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | +0.893 |
Samoa | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | -0.601 |
Fiji | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | -5.190 |
All scores and stats: https://www.crichq.com/competitions/15181/draws/57121/rounds
The Pacific Cup
A joint initiative between the four competing nations and with assistance from the ICC, New Zealand Cricket and with plans to expand the event in future editions the Pacific Cup will see the four teams each play six T20 Internationals over three match days on the 3, 5, & 6 October 2022.
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