Tough day for EAP at Australian Country Cricket Championships

After their terrific recent victory over South Australia Country, East Asia-Pacific fancied their chances of causing an upset over the highly rated ACT in their final match of the 2011 Australian Country Cricket Championships.

However Day 1 of their two day match at Hay Park proved to be the toughest day of the tournament for EAP when they were dismissed for only 113 after being sent in to bat. They then struggled to find wickets with the ball as well leaving the ACT at 5/213 at stumps.

"Today was an extremely frustrating day for us after such a great performance earlier in the week," said EAP coach Tom Evans. "We now have to fight really hard tomorrow to ensure we don?t lose outright."

EAP got off to a poor start losing Kapena Arua (PNG) and Masaomi Kobayashi (JPN) cheaply to good bowling. Things then went from bad to worse with bat for EAP as wickets continued to tumble through a combination of good bowling and poor shot selection from the middle order.

Only 33 from Vani Vagi Morea (PNG) and some lusty blows from Pat Matautaava (VAN) on his way to 30 off just 22 balls were able to offer some resistance. EAP were finally dismissed for a disappointing 113.

Despite creating a couple of chances early EAP could not capitalise as the ACT openers put on 73 before Captain Andrew Mansale (VAN) finally struck. EAP stuck at the task and were able to grab 4 more wickets before the close of play on day one however the task is ahead of them to avoid an outright defeat as ACT lead by nearly 100 heading into the 2nd day.

To keep up to date with scores and stats from the Australian Country Cricket Championships please visit http://www.cricket.com.au/accc2011