Work left to do for EAP against SA Country

East Asia-Pacific will need to bowl well on day two of their match against South Australia Country if they are to claim their first scalp at the Australian Country Cricket Championships after being all out for 177 on day one at Capel Oval.

Some hope remains however after some strong bowling late in the day from Sakaria Lomani (Fij) and Simpson Obed (VAN) left South Australia with the overnight score of 3 for 61.

"While it was a disappointing effort with the bat, the boys really applied themselves well in the field and with the ball and we are definitely still in the game," said EAP coach Tom Evans.

The EAP side won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that looked like it could produce a lot of runs.

Despite losing two early wickets Vani Vagi Morea (PNG) and Andrew Mansale (VAN) steadied the ship to take the score to 2/91 with 10 minutes remaining until lunch. However, those 10 minutes prompted a strong fight back from SA when firstly Mansale was run out for 31 and then soon after Morea was trapped LBW for 53.

After lunch the wickets continued to fall until Jason Kila (PNG) and Trevor Langa (VAN) combined for a partnership of 56 giving the EAP bowlers something to defend. After Kila was dismissed for 24 the tail failed to support Langa who again played extremely well on his way to an unbeaten 47.

Looking to make a mends for their performance with the bat the EAP boys were full of enthusiasm when they grabbed the ball taking three wickets before stumps and keeping the game in the balance.

Lomani claimed the first wicket thanks to a sharp catch in gully by Kila. SA then added 40 for the second wicket before Simpson Obed took a one-handed screamer off his own bowling to snare the important wicket of South Australian captain Kieran Ashby.

EAP continued to apply pressure late in the day bowling 14 maidens from their 31 overs which lead to a third wicket just before stumps when Lomani grabbed his second caught behind by Langa.

To keep up with scores from the 2011 ACCC please visit http://www.cricket.com.au/accc2011