Amazing fight back hands Fiji second place
Fiji has stolen victory from the jaws of defeat against Vanuatu in arguably the match of the 2012 Pepsi ICC East Asia-Pacific Under 17 Championship at Central College in Lautoka.
Requiring more than 12 an over for victory with eight overs to play Saimoni Tuitoga, Akaripa Tuinasau and Napolioni Gu turned on an inspired display of batting to surpass Vanuatu?s total of 121 with just three balls to spare.
"This was an amazing result and showed the true belief that we have tried to place in the minds of our boys," said Fiji coach Colin Rika. "I hope all the kids at home who were watching are keen to play cricket after seeing that. Our boys are really living the dream playing in front of such a great crowd and being on TV and I hope this is just the beginning of even better things."
As they did yesterday against PNG, Fiji won the toss and sent Vanuatu into bat in the host's final match of the tournament.
This decision appeared to backfire early for Fiji as the opening combination of Sakiusa Dokosobau and Sowane Puamau struggled with the swing of the ball and as a result conceded a number of runs through wides.
On top of this the Vanuatu young guns of Nalin Nipiko and David Rakau were keen on putting any ball that was online straight to the fence as Vanuatu raced to 1-68 off the first 11 overs.
Two wickets each from Tomasi Cagilevu and Akaripa Tuinasau began a mini revival for Fiji and momentarily it appeared as if they could restrict Vanuatu to a score under 100.
However a handy cameo of 19 off 14 deliveries from Apolinaire Stephen catapulted the visitors to a score of 6-121 off their 20 overs.
Vanuatu continued the momentum in the run chase with great opening spells from both Nipiko and Stephen who had previously done the job with the bat.
The pair piled on early pressure that was eventually capitalized on by first change bowler Malon Tastuki who picked up two quick wickets including danger man Metuisela Beitaki to have Fiji in trouble at 2-12 after five overs.
Needing more than 10 runs an over for victory Fiji's Napolioni Gu took it upon himself to go after the Vanuatu bowlers with some glorious strokes all over Central College.
When Gu was dismissed for 23 it looked all over for Fiji, however no one told that to Akaripa Tuinasau who added a number of boundaries of his own to retain some hope in the Fiji camp.
When he was joined at the crease by Saimoni Tuitoga no one in the crowd was safe as the pair lofted several huge shots into the stands and Fiji could smell victory in a match that appeared out of their reach only a few overs prior.
Tuitoga was eventually dismissed for 29 off just 12 balls and Fiji were left requiring 14 runs off the last two overs.
Vanuatu wrestled back momentum when Tuinasau was clean bowled for 37 off the bowling of Clement Tommy and Fiji still required 14 runs off the final 11 deliveries with two new batsman at the crease.
The pressure seemed to be getting the better of Vanuatu as fielding errors and no balls for having too many players outside the circle gifted Fiji some crucial runs leaving them requiring 7 to win off the last over.
In contrast spurred on by the support of the vocal home crowd the Fiji pair of Joji Tabua and Sowane Puamau displayed maturity beyond their years and guided their side to an incredible victory securing them second place at the championship.
The tournament concludes this afternoon with the match between Vanuatu and PNG.
Scores in Brief
At Central College, Lautoka
Vanuatu 6-121, 20 overs (Rakau 21, Nipiko 20; Tuinasau 2-11, Cagilevu 2-16)
Fiji 5-122, 19.3 overs (Tuinasau 37, Tuitoga 29, Gu 23; Tastuki 2-152)
Fiji won by 5 wickets with 3 balls to spare
Man of the Match: Akaripa Tuinasau (Fiji)
