Sevou steers Suva 1 to Easter tournament title

A Man-of-the-Match performance by Jone Sevou with both bat and ball was the difference for Suva 1 in the final of Cricket Fiji’s Easter tournament against Suva 2 in Suva. Sevou took 5 for 20 and then backed it up with an unbeaten 62 to steer Suva 1 to a four-wicket win over Suva 2.

With the start of play delayed by half an hour due to overnight rain, a low-scoring match was expected on a still damp outfield. Suva 2 won the toss and elected to bat hoping for a good start from national players Joe Rika and Joji Bulabalavu.

However, it was Samu Draunivudi who made the first break claiming Rika with the total on 5. While Bulabalavu held down one end wickets fell regularly at the other, with Sevou cutting a swathe through the middle-order to claim his five wickets.

Kiti Tavo mopped up three wickets, while Waisake Tukaha eventually dismissed Bulabalavu for 40, the only Suva 2 batsman to reach double figures in an otherwise uninspiring batting performance. In the end, they posted 107 which was hardly a total that struck fear into the Suva 1 batsmen.

Sevou, fresh from his wicket-taking feats, opened the batting and compiled 62 not out to lead Suva 1 team to the target.

Iniasi Cakacaka was the best of the Suva 2 bowlers taking 3 for 30, while national Under-19 hopeful Rahul Pala claimed 2 for 30.

However, some big hitting from Kiti Tavo at the end of the innings, including a six to hit the winning runs, was enough to reach the target for the loss of six wickets.

The national selectors will now use the performances over the weekend’s tournament to select the national U-19 team for this year’s East Asia Pacific U-19 trophy and the senior national team for a series against Vanuatu in May.

Both teams will be named within the next week.