Cook Islands victorious against Indonesia

Indonesia and the Cook Islands played a competitive game, but the latter won out in the end by a comfortable 47 runs in their afternoon match-up on Day 1 of the 2013 Pepsi ICC East Asia-Pacific Men's Championship at Auckland's Waikaraka Park 2.

Indonesia sent the Pacific Islanders in to bat and their decision appeared justified after claiming two early wickets. Patiiamai Ataela carried on from where he left off in the previous game against Vanuatu, taking to Fernandes Nato's medium pace after the Teinaki brothers, Davies and Toara, were dismissed cheaply.

Iwayan Suandi eventually sent Ataela back for 42 from just 24 balls after the batsman swung towards long on where Kadek Astawa took a well-judged catch.

Rizky Rubbi's off-spin initially troubled Tino Etita, so he responded by crashing consecutive deliveries straight back down the ground for a four and six respectively. Etita then exhibited further preference for hitting in linear fashion by blasting another six over Suandi's head.

Etita reached a half-century from just 31 balls after sweeping Igede Arsa behind backward square, cutting Nato through cover point and sending consecutive deliveries from Kadek Gamantika to the backward point and fine leg boundaries.

His inning concluded when he was stumped after charging Rubbi, but his efforts lifted the Cook Islands to a strong 159-6 in their 20 overs.

Indonesia's attempt to chase the target suffered from a lack of partnerships with none of the top or middle order staying in for sufficient periods with opener Viraj Bhammer, who achieved the rare feat of carrying his bat in a Twenty20 game by ending up unbeaten on 66 from 44 balls.

The bowlers shared the wickets around for the Cook Islands, with Toara Teinaki's 3-13 supported by two wickets each for Etita, Mamanu Emile and Wayken Punga as an improving Indonesia were eventually bowled out for 112 in 16 overs to give the Cook Islands their first win of the campaign.

Meanwhile, Samoa had promised to make life difficult for Papua New Guinea on Waikaraka Park 1, and they lived up to their confident words in the first innings, limiting the powerful Barramundi's to 157-7 as skipper Ben Mailata bowled with penetration and economy to scalp 3-20.

The Samoans lost early wickets in the chase to slump to 60-5, victory by a sizeable margin seemed certain for the tournament favourites.

But PNG, who reached their total on the back of 57 from starlet Chris Kent and 34 from Tony Ura, were given a real scare courtesy of some explosive lower-order fireworks from Faasao Mulivai of Auckland's Waitakere City Cricket Club, who blasted a staggering nine sixes en route to a valiant 62 from just 25 balls. His entertaining knock also qualified as the tournament's fastest half-century (16 balls).

However, the Amini brothers, catcher Charles and bowler-captain Chris, combined to send Mulivai back and end Samoan hopes of a fairytale. The underdogs eventually going down by 17 runs.

Over on Waikaraka Park 6, Vanuatu's match with Japan was once again the Andrew Mansale show.

For the second consecutive game, he batted first upon winning the toss and also shared in another highly profitable second-wicket partnership, on this occasion with Trevor Langa. The pair put on 149 runs at just under 10 runs per over.

However, Mansale could not beat the unbeaten 99 he made in the morning round, ending on a tantalising 96 not out from just 55 balls as Vanuatu racked up 196-2.

The total proved insurmountable for Japan, slumping to 50-6 courtesy of Jelany Chilia's spin bowling. They limped to 91-9 in their 20 overs to lose by 105 runs, Alexander Patmore providing the only resistance with 29 as five run-outs dented their cause.

The tournament continues on Monday, with Round 3 to be played in the morning and Round 4 in the afternoon.

Monday's Matches (Morning) ? Round 3

Japan v Fiji
Waikaraka Park 1

Papua New Guinea v Indonesia
Waikaraka Park 6

Samoa v Vanuatu
Waikaraka Park 7

Scores in Brief

At Waikaraka Park 1

Papua New Guinea 157-7, 20 overs (C Kent 57, T Ura 34; B Mailata 3-20)

Samoa 140-7, 20 overs (F Mulivai 62, D Burgess 26*; M Dai 2-18)

Papua New Guinea won by 17 runs

Man of the Match: Faasao Mulivai (Samoa)

At Waikaraka Park 2

Cook Islands 159-6, 20 overs (T Etita 50, P Ataela 42; I Dharmawan 2-12)
Indonesia 112 all out, 16 overs (V Bhammer 66*; T Teinaki 3-13, W Punga 2-9, M Emile 2-12, T Etita 2-12)

Cook Islands won by 47 runs

Man of the Match: Tino Etita (Cook Islands)

At Waikaraka Park 6

Vanuatu 196-2, 20 overs (A Mansale 96*, T Langa 69)

Japan 91-9, 20 overs (A Patmore 29; J Chilia 2-6)

Vanuatu won by 105 runs

Man of the Match: Andrew Mansale (Vanuatu)

2013 Pepsi ICC East Asia-Pacific Men's Championship Table

For results, live scores and information on the 2013 Pepsi ICC EAP Men's Championships please go to:

http://www.icc-cricket.com/the-icc/icc_members/eap/senior-men/fixtures.php