Victoria too strong for EAP in Round 4 match

The ICC East Asia – Pacific (EAP) team have been defeated in a one-day fixture against Victoria Country (VC) in Round 4 of the 2009 Australian Country Cricket Championships.

In the second and final one-day match of the Championships, VC won the toss and elected to send EAP in to bat, hoping to pick up some early wickets.

Opening batsman Vani Vagi Morea fell early, and when Japanese star Masaomi Kobayashi was dismissed soon after, EAP were again on the back foot at 21-2.

PNG young gun Assad Vala and Vice-Captain Andrew Mansale then set about arresting the slide, and batted with patience and discipline to put on a 61-run stand before Mansale was judged LBW for a well made 24.

Vala continued to bat with poise to bring up his half-century, and a total around 200 was well within reach for the EAP team.

When Vala fell for a crafty 64 with score at 119-5, EAP desperately required the lower order to stand up. While Dikana and Baba both toiled hard against some tidy bowling, wickets continued to tumble and EAP were eventually dismissed for 169 on the final ball of the innings.

With just 169 on the board, VC were confident of reaching the moderate total. Tongan Simione Latu picked up an early wicket, however the strength of the VC top order came to the fore, and with a patient and smart batting display, passed the total with the loss of just 4 wickets.

Mansale was the pick of the bowlers for EAP, capturing 23-2 from 10 overs.

EAP now look forward to a two-day fixture against New South Wales Country at Tanunda Oval.