Papua New Guinea bag Twenty20 title

Tony Munro

Papua New Guinea, as expected, comfortably won the Twenty20 event of the East Asia-Pacific Trophy in Samoa, beating Fiji by 101 runs in the final. The regional heavyweights smashed 208 from their allotted 20 overs, with captain Chris Amini belting 82 off 50 balls. He was joined by Jeremiah Nigani (80) in a 148-run partnership which helped PNG set Fiji a stiff asking rate.

The Fijian reply was in reverse before it started when Jojo Baba was run out off the first ball of the innings. Another key Fiji batsman was soon gone when Joe Rika was hit on the foot by the fast bowler Willie Gavera and forced to retire hurt.

Iniasi Cakacaka added some punch to the Fijian innings, hitting 60 including five sixes and six fours. Earlier in the day, Baba showed what might have been in the last of Fiji's preliminary matches when he struck an unbeaten 103 against Indonesia. Fiji hit 197 for 1 before restricting Indonesia to 92 for 6 from its 20 overs.

Samoa gave an indication it was a threat for the coveted World Cricket League Division Eight place when it beat a weakened Japan in the third-place playoff by seven wickets.

(All matches played to Twenty20 format)

Morning Results

Samoa 118 for 6 (F Mulivai 31, M Sua 19, R Turner 16; A Mansale 2-28) beat Vanuatu 117 for 9 (L Carlot 30, D Smith 23, A Mansale 21; M Sua 4-23, F Mulivai 2-22, D Seuoti 2-26) by four wickets

Papua New Guinea 180 for 4 (V Morea 36, A Vala 79; S Latu 2-28) beat Tonga 139 for 8 (F Moala 39, S Holi 31, S Latu 44; V Morea 3-36, L Nou 2-9) by 41 runs

Japan 140 for 9 (M Kobayashi 52, K Kobayashi 30; T Teinaki 3-17, D Teinaki 2-20, N Ngatokarua 2-27) beat Cook Islands 92 for 8 (T Etita 24; N Miyaji 3-12) by 48 runs

Fiji 197 for 1 (J Baba 103*, J Dabea 74*) beat Indonesia 92 for 6 (20 (G Arsa 16;L Waqaituinayua 2-10) by 105 runs

Afternoon Results

Final:

Papua New Guinea 208 for 6 (C Amini 82, J Nigani 80; S Lomani 2-14, J Baba 2-28) beat Fiji 107 for 9 (16 overs - innings closed) (I Cakacaka 60; P Raho 3-20, L Nou 2-15) by 101 runs

Third Place Play-off:

Samoa 46 for 3 (10.1 overs) (F Mailata 24*) beat Japan 43 (15.1 overs) (M Rizwan 15; L Fuimoana 3-9) by 7 wickets

Fifth Place Play-off:

Vanuatu 148 for 7 (J Dunn 43, T Langa 22, L Natapei 20; T Teinaki 3-21) beat Cook Islands 83 for 9 (20 overs) (T Teinaki 27) by 65 runs

Seventh Place Play-off:

Tonga 173 for 5 (20 overs) (S Holi 53, K Ofahulu 60) beat Indonesia 132 (18.3 overs) (P Chaturvedi 47; A Haukinima 4-12) by 51 runs