East Asia-Pacific (EA-P) has put in a strong batting performance to go close in its two-day Australian Country Championships match against Western Australia in Albury on Friday.

Chasing a formidable 314, all of the EA-P top-order made double-figures, with Papua New Guinea's Chris Amini (69) and captain Andrew Mansale (65) making half-centuries, only to fall 11 runs short. The regional team batted out its entire 100 overs, giving the players valuable experience in accumulating an innings.

The team has a rest day tomorrow before playing competition leaders, Northern Territory in a two-day game starting on Sunday.

Scores Western Australia 313 (S Lomani 3-47, W Gavera 2-60, L Nou 2-60) defeated East Asia-Pacific 302-9 (C Amini 69, A Mansale 65, V V Morea 42, J Baba 31)