Historic moment for ICC - East Asia Pacific (EAP) Development Program as EAP XI record first-ever victory

In an historic moment for the ICC East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Development Program, the EAP XI recorded its first-ever victory in the Australian Country Cricket Championship (ACCC) yesterday, defeating South Australia (SA) Country.

The victory, the EAP XI's first since its establishment in 2003, is sure to create much excitement amongst the EAP cricket community's 33,000 strong participation base.

The win was set up on the first day of the two-day match, with EAP dismissing SA Country for 209 in 88 overs. SA did well to recover after being in trouble at 8/106 after 47 overs.

Dunu Eliaba (Cook Islands) and EAP Captain Rarua Dikana (PNG) dominated with the ball with four wickets apiece. Vanuatu off spinner Andrew Mansale took his first wicket of the championship, while a run out affected by Gimapau Kiemelo (PNG) saw the South Australians dismissed before stumps on day 1.

At the close of play on day 1, EAP was 1/30, with Assad Vala (PNG) and Tiko Kida (Fiji) the not out batsmen. Opener Arua Uda was dismissed leg before wicket for 6.

Vala, only 18 years of age, continued his fine tournament with the bat, scoring a classy 54 to set up the victory. When he fell with the score on 4/124, EAP looked to be in a commanding position, with Andrew Mansale not out on 17. Mansale was the fifth wicket to fall after a solid 27 from 106 deliveries, including two towering sixes.

However with the 6th and 7th wickets falling in quick succession (Jamie Brazier and Gimapau Kiemelo), SA Country looked to have gained the ascendancy, with the score at 7/149, with EAP still requiring a further 61 runs for victory - enter the record breaking partnership between Mahuru Dai (PNG) and Rarua Dikana (PNG).

In a wonderful display of batting under extreme pressure, Dai and Dikana put on 106 for the 8th wicket and in doing so, steering EAP to a well-deserved victory.

Dai finished with a superb 73, while Dikana continued his fine form with the bat, scoring an invaluable 42.

There were scenes of jubilation around the ground as Mahuru Dai (PNG) hit the winning runs, ending a championship drought that had threatened to stretch into a third year.

EAP was eventually dismissed for 275, leaving SA Country to bat out the remaining 13 overs to be bowled before stumps.

EAP managed to have the South Australian's reeling in that short space of time, taking four wickets for 16 runs. These four wickets were important in that under the ACCC bonus points system, it allowed EAP to move into fourth position on the ladder ahead of South Australia and Western Australia.

ICC EAP Development Officer and EAP XI Coach Martin Gleeson was elated with the win and paid tribute to the team for their hard work and dedication over the past two months in the lead up to the Championship.

"I am thrilled that the team has recorded its first victory since joining the ACCC in 2003 after getting close on a number of occasions over the past two years. The squad has worked extremely hard over the past two months with a view to making this our most successful Championship to date and for that they must be congratulated" Gleeson said.

Preparations began back in November with a squad camp at the Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence in Brisbane. The final team of 14 was selected from an initial squad of 23.

The EAP XI Coach added "The team's improving performance is testament to the hard work of EAP Member Countries over the past few years in developing their elite players as part of the overall high performance program. Without the wonderful work being conducted by our National Cricket Bodies in preparing their elite squads the EAP Regional team would not have had the kind of success we have witnessed during this Championship".

EAP's final match is against Queensland beginning Friday.