ICC WLC East Aisa- Pacific Region Division One Twenty20: Samoa takes 3rd Spot
In the 3rd Place Play-off match, Samoa beat Fiji by a convincing margin of 30 runs in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World Cricket League East Asia- Pacific Region Division One, played at the Amini Park, Port Moresby, July 7, 2011.
Put into bat, Samoa made most of some loose bowling by posting a commendable total of 172, courtesy of some explosive hitting by Faasao Mulivai.
In reply, Fiji started well but failed to maintain the pace and were bundled out for 142 in 18.2 overs.
As the match referee tossed the coin, it was Fiji’s captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Josefa-Falani-Rika-c69246, who struck first blood. Surprisingly, he opted to bowl first, going against the course of the tournament.
The decision looked justified as bowlers bowled tightly in the initial stages of the match.
At the score of 17, Samoa lost their first wicket when opener Sean Cotter was caught by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sakaraia-Ratumuri-Lomani-c88054. When Benjamin Mailata presented Jikoi Kida with a simple caught and bowled chance in the 10th over, Samoa
was reeling, having only posted 48 on the board.
However, came in the star of the match, Faasao Mulivai, who played an innings of his life. He blasted the Fiji Bowlers all around the park and tilted the match in his side’s favor.
Showing no respite whatsoever, he blazed on to make 67 off just 35 balls, which left the Fiji players stunned. His knock was compiled of four crisp boundaries and seven mega hits that lit up the stadium and dressing room.
He was eventually held out off the bowling of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Viliame-Yabaki-c95296, leaving the spectators and players to stand up and admire a terrific piece of stroke play by the 26-year-old.
However, the show continued with Samoa’s captain, Geoff Clarke and Pritchard Pritchard carried on to hammer the bowling leaving the Fiji side in utter amazement.
Both remained not out, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 making a solid 43 off 42 that had 4 boundaries, while Pritchard had motored to 28 off just 10 deliveries in which he struck three sixes.
The bowling from the Fiji bowlers was lack luster to say the least as all went for pretty. Only notable performance came from their opening bowler, Mohammad Kahn, who although wicket less, was economical with figures of 0-20 in his four overs.
Chasing a target of 173, Fiji lost their opener, Ravoka for a duck in the very first over to Loutala Fuinaomo.
However, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Iniasi-Cakacaka-c64371, gave momentum to the innings and looked at ease, thrashing the Samoa bowlers.
They put on a quick partnership of 58 before Sean Cotter came into the attack and broke their resilience. First he dismissed the dangerous Bulabalavu, who played well for his 37 from just 23 balls, which included six boundaries. In his next over he then
removed Cakacaka, who made a quick fire 26 off 18 with the help of five fours.
This broke the spirit of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Fiji-c2897 team as the next batsmen failed to make any meaningful contribution. A late surge by Lomani (23) and Yabaki (24) was not enough as the team collapsed in 19th over for 142.
Pick of the Samoa bowlers was Sean Cotter who had figures of 3-9 from the three overs he bowled.
The 30-run victory helps Samoa finish the tournament on a high, placing them 3rd behind finalists http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Vanuatu-c3038.
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