FIJI and Vanuatu have set up a winner-takes-all showdown in the final round of the ICC World Cricket League East Asia Pacific Region Qualifying tournament after both remained unbeaten on Thursday.
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Following a rest day on Friday, Fiji and Vanuatu will meet in Saturday’s final round at Kangaroo Flat, where the winner will claim the EAP crown.
Fiji was in brilliant form with the bat against Indonesia at White Hills, plundering the highest score of the tournament so far in what was a comprehensive 223-run win.
After winning the toss and batting Fiji cracked 9-309 off its 50 overs.
The innings featured half-centuries from player of the match Maciu Guana (77 off 71) and Imran Khan (50 off 65), with the pair putting on 90 for the third wicket after Fiji had been 2-55 in the 13th over.
Guana and Khan were among seven Fiji players who made at least 20.
Six Indonesian bowlers took a wicket, with opener Ridha Aulia (4-56) snaring four.
Needing to score at 6.2 runs per over to win, Indonesia wasn’t in a hurry, spending 39.4 overs at the crease before it was all out for 86.
Ahmad Ramdoni (20 n.o. off 71) was the best of the best of the batsmen for Indonesia, whose cause wasn’t helped by having three batsmen run out and Rizky Rubbi (hurt) unable to bat.
• The clash between Vanuatu and Japan at Strathfieldsaye lasted just 46 overs as the gulf between top and bottom was shown.
Batting first, Japan was bundled out in the 27th over for 79, losing its last nine wickets for just 33 after it had been 1-46.
Apolinaire Stephen (3-16) was the best with the ball for Vanuatu against a Japan side that had five players dismissed for under five.
In reply Vanuatu took 18.4 overs to reach 4-80 and win with 188 balls to spare.
Vanuatu had been under some early pressure at 2-7 in the third over, before Patrick Matautaava (31) and player of the match Nalan Nipiko (26) put the side back on track for a comfortable win.
• Samoa won its second game, notching a four-wicket victory over the Philippines at Weeroona Oval.
The Philippines lost its last seven wickets for 23 runs to be all out for 138 batting first, with Machanda Biddappa (27) top-scoring.
Player of the match Daniel Burgess (3-14) and left-arm spinner Fa’afetaialealofa Vaaetasi (3-28) picked up three wickets each for Samoa.
Samoa chased its target down for the loss of six wickets, answering with 6-140, led by 41 off 57 from opener Uala Kaisala.
Ladder – Vanuatu (4-0), Fiji (4-0), Samoa (2-2), Philippines (1-3), Indonesia (1-3), Japan (0-4).
