Fiji keep a clean sheet ...Just

A fighting Cook Islands have narrowly missed out their first win as a last wicket partnership of 27 runs stole victory for Fiji in Match 5 of the EAP Cricket Trophy today at the Peter Burge Oval at Redlands CC in Brisbane, Australia.

A spirited start from opening bowler turned opening batter Dunu Eliaba (48 off 53 balls) sparked the day as the Cooks won the toss and batted. Eliaba s good work was tempered somewhat by a middle order batting collapse and after a promising start the Cooks struggled to cope with the pace of Samuela Draunivudi (4/16 off 9 overs) and were dismissed for 115. Josefa Dabea (2/28 off 10) also chipped in with the two key wickets of Eliaba and Chris Brown.

A fired up Cooks had six overs at Fiji before the lunch break and put their Pacific neighbours on the back foot straight away with two wickets in the first three overs to send them nervously to lunch at 2/14.

After the break the Cooks continued to attack and when skipper Joeli Matayawa was clean bowled by Ngatokorima Kairua for 3 Fiji were staring down the barrel at 6 for 49 in the 25th over. The Cooks fielding was also dynamic and was highlighted by a number of diving saves at crucial times to keep the pressure on the Fijian batters.

Wickets continued to tumble and after the 39th over was completed the 9th wicket had fallen and Fiji were still 27 runs shy of the required target. The last hope for Fiji was the experienced all rounder Josefa Dabea, who went in at 2 for 3 and had watched his team mates tumble around him, and tailender Samuela Draunivudi who had shown his staying ability in a 42 run 10th wicket partnership yesterday against Japan.

Showing composure and patience lacking in their top order team mates Dabea and Draunivudi used quick singles and straight bats to edge closer to the target before Dabea dropped one at his feet and the batters scampered through for a single to secure a spectacular and unlikely victory. The Cooks, devastated but not disgraced, were gallant in defeat but paid the ultimate price for contributing 29 wides to the Fijian score.

"We are very excited about our close win to stay unbeaten in the tournament" remarked an exhausted Player of the Match Dabea "The Cooks played really well and we were lucky in the end to hang on for victory."

The last game tomorrow is also shaping as a blockbuster with the last three Japan and Cook Islands clashes all being nailbiters decided in the final overs. The Cooks can still claim second place in the tournament but will need to win tomorrow and make up the .08 differential in net run rate. A victory for Japan will ensure second place and secure their ranking as the number three country in the East Asia Pacific region. Play commences at 9am.

Cook Islands 115 (D Eliaba 48, S. Draunivudi 4/16, J Dabea 2/28) lost to Fiji 9/116 (J Dabea 43no, D Eliaba 2/18, J Joseph 2/28)