Live Blog: Day 1 Pacific Games

4:20pm: PNG has got the runs! Passing the score with 4 wickets in hand in the 18th over. A great game of cricket with Vanuatu taking it right up to them.

3:59pm: Tony Ura clearly decided it was time to end proceedings. Smashing two huge sixes then hitting out off the bowling of Jelany Chilia, caught at deep mid-off. PNG 5-87 off 12.5 overs.

3:55pm: A wicket maiden from Andrew Mansale has continued to keep this match interesting. PNG 4-73 off 12 overs.

Still with Jason Kila and Tony Ura in the middle and the required run rate at about 4 an over I still can't see PNG losing this one.

3:51pm Just an update on key performances from the first innings.

For PNG Jason Kila took 3-11 off 4 overs and Mahuta Kivung 2-37. For Vanuatu Simpson Obed's quick fire 21 was their highlight.

3:50pm: I get the feeling that if Ura sticks around this target won't be a problem for the Barramundi's. Kapena Arua also just smashed a huge 6!

PNG 3-63 off 10 overs.

3:40pm Just when PNG looked back in control the ever reliable Andrew Mansale brought himself into the attack and got intstant results. Vani Vagi caught at deep mid-off and PNG are 3-52 off 8 overs. Still plenty of batting to come but they need to keep the runs ticking over.

3:30pm Vanuatu are making a real game of it after Matautaava got Vala cheaply and Lynch claimed the wicket of PNG captain Jack Vare. PNG 2-34 off 5 overs.

Tony Ura still at the crease though and looking solid

2:50pm: A couple of late boundries to Steven Lynch and Kenny Tari has helped Vanuatu pass the ton. They finish on 8-103.

Some great bowling at the end from Joel Tom and Mahuta Kivung keeping the score down significantly.

If Assad Vala and Tony Ura get going this match could be over pretty quickly!

2:30pm: They got their man this time though thanks to a looping delivery from Jason Kila. Matautaava caught on the fence without making an impact. Vanuatu 5-76 off 15 overs

2:27pm: Some tight bowling from Joel Tom forced a loose shot from Matautaava to mid-wicket however John Boge dropped a difficult one and Matautaava survives.

2:23pm: Obed's dominance was shortlived, caught on the boundary. However expect the big hitting to continue as Patrick Matautaava arrives at the crease. Vanuatu 4-68 off 13

2:20pm: Simpson Obed and Nalin Nipiko have just gone banana's with the bat! Nipiko with consecutive 4s and then Obed with 3 6s in 4 balls!

2:15pm: Vanuatu has stopped to a walk against the spin of Jason Kila and the tight bowling of Vani Vagi. 3-39 off 11 overs.

2:05pm: PNG has claimed the prize wicket of Andrew Mansale and despite a solid start from Vanuatu PNG are back in control.

Vanuatu 3-35 off 9.1 overs.

1:20pm: Vanuatu has won the toss and will bat against PNG.

12:16pm: It's all over. New Caledonia all out for 79 in the 20th over.

Yabaki the star with the ball taking 3 wickets.

12:08pm: The 9th wicket has fallen. New Caledonia 9-72 off 17 overs.

12:00pm: Kida has just claimed his first wicket and New Caledonia are 8-62 off 15 overs.

I must say despite getting a touch up the home crowd are making a lot of noise! Great atmosphere here in Noumea.

11:42am: Jo Rika has joined the wickets claiming his first. New Caledonia 5-43 off 11.3 overs.

11:37am: Probably spoke to soon about the wickets. Two quick ones and the hosts are now in big trouble at 5-42 off 11 overs.

Aiming now to bat out the 20 overs.

11:30am: Jean Christ Midraia and Steeve Tchidopoane have steadied the ship in terms of loss of wickets for New Caledonia. 3-39 off 9 overs.

The required run rate however is looking like an impossibility.

11:10am: Fiji have started brilliantly with the ball. Taking a gamble on young spinner Viliame Yabaki to open the bowling has paid off in spades!

Yabaki has 3 wickets from his first two overs to have New Caledonia struggling at 3-18 off 5 overs.

10:45am: Top scorers for Fiji were Sakaraia Lomani with a magnificent 77 not out. Sekove Ravoka also made 42. All single wicket takers for New Caledonia.

10:36am: A big last over has seen Fiji post 4-212 off their 20 overs. The hosts will have a huge job ahead of them in the chase.

10:31am: Fiji have lost a couple of quick wickets looking for quick runs in the final overs. Jo Rika was trying to loft a ball back to Fiji and was bowled by Noel Sinyeue then a terrible mix up saw Maciu Gauna run out cheaply.

Fiji still on target for a huge score. 4-193 off 19 overs.

10:15am: Jo Rika just got lucky. Clean bowled playing a particularly random shot only to see the umpires arm raised to signal a no ball.

Since then he has made the most of it smashing a couple of boundries. Fiji 2-147 off 16

10:10am: Fiji 2-133 off 15 overs. Sekove ended his fine knock caught behind just shy of his half century off the bowling of Falaone Fuimaono.

9:50am: Fiji are starting to really punish the New Caledonian bowling. 1-96 off 12 overs. Both Lomani and Ravoka are playing superbly seeing off the good balls and making sure the bad ones (and there have been a few) remain hit!

9:30: New Caledonia brought Jean-Chris Midraia into the attact for immediate results clean bowling Seru Tupou. Tupou will wish he could have that moment again. A wild swing at a ball that was defnitely not there to be hit!

Fiji 1-68 off 8 overs

9:25: Things are looking brighter for Fiji both on and off the field. The Sun has poked through the clouds and Tupou and Ravoka are starting to hit them around a bit. Fiji 0-63 off 7 overs.

9:05am: A number of wides in the first two overs from the New Caledonia bowlers is making it tough for Fiji openers Seru Tupou and Sekove Ravoka to score freely. Fiji 0-12 off 2 overs.

8:35am: New Caledonia has won the toss and sent Fiji into bat under overcast skies here in Noumea.

**8:15am:**Welcome to beautiful Noumea for the opening day of the cricket competition at the 14th Pacific Games.

First up this morning the hosts New Caledonia will meet Fiji followed this afternoon by Vanuatu v PNG.