PNG and Vanuatu Make Scintillating Starts
Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu have made equally impressive and comprehensive starts to the East Asia - Pacific Under 19 World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Port Vila on Wednesday.
In a day of lop-sided contests, tournament favourites Papua New Guinea thrashed Japan by ten wickets, in less than two and a half hours, while Vanuatu comprehensively beat Fiji by nine-wickets..
There were plenty of home-town heroes for Vanuatu after the team's first match of the tournament, none more so than opening bowler Victor Aru, and all-rounders Andrew Mansale and Selwyn Garae.
Fiji stumbled its way to four for 31, as the Ni-Vanuatu side took control early, Aru claiming four quick wickets.
Mansale and Garae then chimed in with three and two wickets respectively as Fiji collapsed to be all out for 84.
Vanuatu's opening batsmen then put 50 on for the first wicket, before Mansale finished the innings off with a spate of handsome shots, including 17 runs from one over.
While the local boys were ecstatic with the win, they know there is a lot of work left ahead of them if they are to be successful in this tournament.
Japan, for example, know all too well how strong the Papua New Guineans are.
The Japanese were clearly outclassed, as PNG's combination of right and left handed quicks, and the off spin of Colin Amini, cleaned up Japan for just 37.
PNG had no troubles reeling in the runs, needing just four overs, as Alfred Amini spanked a quick-fire 20 not out, to finish the game well before lunch.
Another notable PNG performance was the tidy keeping of Arua Dikiana.
Japan will have the chance for redemption on Thursday morning when it meets Vanuatu at Kazaa Field, while Fiji will be looking to hit back against PNG, when the two sides meet at Club Hippique.
Both games are scheduled to begin at 9.
Remarkably the weather was clear for Wednesday's matches, and tournament officials are hopeful the slight change will remain in place for the rest of the week, despite predictions.
Interestingly, it appears both Vanuatu and PNG possess quality slow bowling options, something that caught their respective opposition off guard on day one.
Last Modified on 18/07/2007 14:55