Easter tournament final abandoned due to rain

A late afternoon rain storm caused play in the final of the Easter tournament to be abandoned leaving a waterlogged pitch and two teams ready to play again on Tuesday.

With the field left unplayable after the storm, match officials consulted both teams before deciding that the game would be replayed in its entirety on Tuesday morning.

The Suva Warriors had completed its innings and just four overs of the Moce innings were played before the rain came. Twenty20 rules dictate that five overs must be played in order to constitute a legal match, leaving the game just one over short of completion.

When the Warriors batted first, it was in early trouble as Tagilala Rakuita (4-16) struck with three early wickets to leave the Warriors reeling at 10-3.

Kida Jikoivanualevu (16) and Noa Acawei (29) then put together a small partnership to get the Warriors moving, but when Kida became Tagilala's fourth victim, his team was in deep trouble at 32-4.

Some big hitting from Acawei and Kitione Tavo (29) built the total towards a respectable score, which was helped by lower order hitter Sakaraia Lomani's 17 not out, including two sixes.

In the end, the Warriors were dismissed in the last over for 104, which considering the strength of its bowling attack was a good total and one
that Moce would have to bat well to reach.

With rain clouds forming, officials began making Duckworth/Lewis calculations that would be used in case of rain, and as rain began in the first over it looked like they would come into play.

However, with Moce on 14-1 after four overs, the storms came and match officials had no choice but to abandon play on a field containing too much surface water to be able to play safely for the players.

Earlier in the day, a determined Moce team earned a place in the Easter tournament final against Suva Warriors with a convincing win over Suva Crusaders in the Monday morning semi final.

Thanks to a five-wicket haul from Sekope Biaunicava and a hard hitting 32 from Cakacaka Sau the Lau Islanders overcame a Crusaders team full of Fiji internationals.

The Crusaders batted first and looked set to score a big total thanks to solid contributions from its top order.

Joe Rika (10), Iniasi Cakacaka (16) and Waisake Tukaha (17) all got starts and had their team well placed at 47-2 and looking for a big score.

However Biaunicava had different ideas as he decimated the Crusaders' middle order with some accurate bowling.

Four of his five wickets were bowled as the Crusaders lost five wickets for just ten runs to leave them floundering well short of a respectable total.

The Suva tail eventually ground its way to a score of 78, leaving Moce the challenge of scoring four runs an over to win the game.

The Moce batsmen never looked in doubt of reaching the target. Cakacaka led the way at the top of the order with his steady innings that included two sixes.

Iliesa Tale (18) got his team close to the target and it was then left to Tiko and Motu to get their team home and a place in the Easter tournament
final against Suva Warriors.

The Warriors earned its place in the final with a comfortable win over Western Tigers at the Army Barracks Ground.

The Tigers batted first and lost two quick wickets as Sam Draunivudi (2-6) struck twice in his first two overs to leave the Tigers struggling at 3-2 in the third over.

Sekove Ravoka (18) helped steady the ship in partnership with Tauyesa Vakarau (26 not out) but when Ravoka was dismissed by Sakaraia Lomani (2-14) it was the beginning of the end for the Tigers innings.

With only Vakarau showing any real resistance wickets tumbled regularly as the Tigers eventually crawled to 69 runs from its 20 overs.

The Warriors always looked in control in the run chase as Mesui Qalobula (31) piloted his team to the target with five wickets to spare.

The morning results set up a battle between two traditional cricketing rivals in Fiji - Moce and Suva - which should make for a great final.

FINAL RESULT
Suva Warriors 104 (Acawei 29, Tavo 29, Tagilala 4-16) versus Moce 14-1 when rain abandoned play.
No result. Match to be replayed on Tuesday

SEMI FINAL RESULTS
Moce 79-3 (Cakacaka 32, Tale 18, Tukaha 1-8) defeated Suva Crusaders 78-9 (Tukaha 17, I Cakacaka 16, Biaunicava 5 for 20) by seven wickets.

Suva Warriors 72-5 (Qalobula 31, Patel 2-19) defeated Western Tigers 69-9 (Yakarau 26 not out, Ravoka 18, Draunivudi 2-4) by five wickets.