Caption: Inter-Tertiary Cricket Champions,Fiji National University (FNU) cricket team at Suva Grammar grounds yesterday.Photo:SUPPLIED
By ASHTOSH SINGH
Fiji National University (FNU) has snatched victory from the University of FIJI (Uni Fiji), in the Inter-Tertiary Cricket Championships held at Suva Grammar yesterday. FNU ruined Uni Fiji’s hopes of making it three back-to-back titles, on the first occasion the tournament was been played in a Super 6s format.
The opening game of the tournament was a close battle between FNU and the Uni Fiji. Uni Fiji batted first, for a total of 58 runs, with Abdul top scoring with 17. However, despite Uni Fiji being the defending champions, FNU took them right down to the wire, and ended up snatching a three-run victory, with a total of 61. Joe top-scored for FNU with an unbeaten 20, all of which came from boundaries.
The Fiji School of Medicine (FSM) won game two by default, with the team from University of the South Pacific (USP) being a no-show on game day.
Game three proved to be a less-tight affair, with FSM batting first against FNU. Sid was the top scored for FSM with 16, which proved to be a handy contribution to his side’s total of 49. However FNU proved too strong, reaching the winning total of 51 in the fourth over. Orisi top-scored for the winners, with 22 not out.
Game four between Uni Fiji and USP was another default win for the reigning champions.
Uni Fiji continued on their winning run in game five against FSM. Batting first Uni Fiji started off strongly, with Fiji national player Rukesh Patel retiring on 36 not out, bringing up his total with a huge six. In total Uni Fiji made 98; an imposing target, but one that was still within the sights of FSM. Sid smashed his way to 42 for FSM, before he was retired after exceeding the maximum score allowed in the Super 6s format. However his team fell just short of the mammoth target, being bowled out for 91 in the last over.
To round off the final of the preliminary matches, FNU received a default victory in their scheduled match against USP meaning that the top two teams, FNU and Uni Fiji, would face each other in the final.
Uni Fiji went into the final with confidence, smashing their way to an imposing total of 120. Both Abdul (45) and Eroni (44) were handy contributors for Uni Fiji, both reaching the maximum total of 30 allotted for Super 6s fixtures, before going back into bat when their teammates lower down the order were dismissed. However FNU weren’t going to take defeat lying down. Orisi (25) and Joe (28) both chipped in, but in the fifth over it looked as if 121 to win was just going to be out of reach for FNU. However when Uni Fiji’s Eroni came to the crease with the ball, he didn’t have quite the same luck as he did with the bat. The second-last over of the day – including 12 wides – went for 34, practically handing FNU the win in the final over.
Meanwhile, The Fiji University Sports’ Association (FUSA) will present the tournament’s awards today at 6pm. Cricket Fiji would like to thank FUSA for including cricket in it’s program and continuing to run this fun yet competitive annual event.