Chris Amini smashes one down the ground.Photo:SUPPLIED.
The Vanuatu men’s cricket team have made it 2 from 2 on day 1 of the Pacific Games Men’s Cricket Competition at Amini Park.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat under blue skies against the home town favourites PNG A, the Vanuatu batters got off to a slow start losing 2 early wickets to be 2/7.
Top scorer Nalin Nipiko (40 off 19) and Simpson Obed combined for a good 49 run partnership giving them a platform to hit out at the end. Vanuatu posted an excellent 9/172 off their 20 overs with Kabua Vagi Morea picking up 4/20.
PNG A got off to a flyer with Riley Hekure and captain Chris Amini putting on 61 for the first wicket. The skipper did his best to get his team over the line with a dashing 80 off 56 balls but did not get enough support from his team mates as they finished 28 runs short of the target. Patrick Matautaava bowled beautifully for Vanuatu taking wickets at key moments to finish with 4/25.
Vanuatu won their second match of the day bowling Tonga out for 55 and taking just 3.1 overs to pass the target. Simpson Obed took 4/11 for Vanuatu and Ronald Tari hit 35 off 15.
In other matches today, Tonga started with a 37 run win over New Caledonia thanks to some lusty hitting from Aloisio Pau’u who made 49 off 44.
PNG A more than comfortably accounted for New Caledonia in the afternoon after scoring 259 off their 20 overs. Riley Hekure hit an incredible 139 off 67 balls before Alei Nao took the surreal figures of 4/0 off 2 overs to help secure a 225 run win.
Round 1
Vanuatu 9/172 (20) Nalin Nipiko 40, Andrew Mansale 28, Kabua Vagi Morea 4/20 Hiri Hiri 3/18 defeated PNG A 6/144 (20) Christopher Amini 80, Riley Hekure 33, Patrick Matautaava 4/25 by 28 runs.
Tonga 176 (19.4) Aloisio Pau’u 49, Lea Tenisi 41, Efalame Laumape 24, Nicolas Magulu 3/16, defeated New Caledonia 6/139 (20) Steeve Tchidopoane 36, Nicolas Magulu 33, Timote Latu 2/18 by 37 runs
Round 2
Tonga 55 (15.4) Aloisio Pau’u 13, Simpson Obed 4/11, Patrick Matautaava 3/9defeated by Vanuatu 0/58 (3.1) Ronald Tari 35* by 10 wickets
PNG A 3/259 (20) Riley Hekure 139, Chris Amini 53, Jason Kila 49 defeated New Caledonia 34 (9.4 overs) Emmanuel Katrawi 13*, Alei Nao 4/0, Kabua Vagi Morea 3/12 by 225 runs
Press Release