Vanuatu fight hard to overcome a gallant Fiji in a vital clash

Vanuatu v Fiji
Played at Amini Park,Port Moresby
Vanuatu 107-7, 29.3 overs (S Obed 53 not out)
Fiji 103 all out, 33.1 overs (I Cama 31)
Vanuatu won by four runs
Scorecard

PNG v Indonesia
Played at Colts Ground,Port Moresby
PNG 307-7, 50 overs (L Tau 73)
Indonesia 32, 21.2 overs
PNG won by 275 runs
Scorecard

Vanuatu came out on top in the all important clash against its top contender Fiji to defeat it by four runs in Round 2 of the 2009 Pepsi ICC EAP U19 Cricket Trophy held in PNG on Monday.

Winning the toss, Fiji elected to bat in extreme heat at Amini Park and were in early trouble when a ferocious opening spell from Vanuatu young gun Patrick Matuataava claimed opener H Christopher for nought. Fiji was then able to steady and reach 73-3, thanks to a patient partnership between I Cama (31) and N Cawei (18).

From there on, the Fiji innings fell apart, mainly due to some outstanding off-spin bowling from Vanuatu skipper Simpson Obed and the introduction of medium pacer Jeleny Chilia. The pair finished with three wickets each to dismiss Fiji for a disappointing 103 in 33.1 overs.

In the next innings, Fiji got off to a good start claiming a few early wickets and looked forward to an early finish. Young pacer Tukana Tavo began with a blistering spell of pace bowling, taking the first three wickets with the Vanuatu score on 20. When Tavo claimed his fourth victim - Karl Laau caught behind - Vanuatu was teetering at 20-5, and on the verge of collapse.

Enter skipper Simpson Obed, who batted with class and grace under intense pressure to pick off the remaining runs with apparent ease, helped by some excellent support from Unavalu, who finished on an unbeaten 13 to see his side to victory by four runs.

In the other match of the day, PNG was up against Indonesia at Colts Ground. The PNG Garamuts won the toss and elected to bat, with young stars Heni Siaka and Lega Tau opening up. Siaka and Lega started cautiously before unleashing a devastating assault on the Indonesian bowlers. The pair put on 139 for the opening stand before Siaka was caught off Rizky Tri for a well made 46.

Lega continued the onslaught to reach a classy 73, and when hard-hitting middle order bat Tony Ura (53) started to heat up, an enormous total was on the cards. Jason Kila (45), Stephen Eno (19) and Charles Amini Junior (19) all got starts in quick fashion to help PNG to an imposing 307-7 from their full 50 overs.

Indonesia was never in the hunt, and while several battled hard to soak up overs in the middle stages, PNG bowlers were a class above, knocking over the disappointing Indonesians for just 32.

For PNG, Raymond Haoda Junior again stamped himself as a star of this tournament, bowling with some real pace and bounce to pick up 3-10 from seven fiery overs, while skipper John Boge and the accurate Jonathan Diho again bowled accurately to capture two wickets each.

Monday June 2nd Fixture:
Amini Park: Vanuatu v Indonesia
Colts Ground: Fiji v Japan
Bye: PNG

For all match results, statistics, fixtures and updates, click here