Vanuatu remain unbeaten after running out winners by 121 runs against the Philippines in round two of competition at the 2017 ICC World Cricket League Qualifier – East Asia-Pacific.
Vanuatu made just one change to the team that defeated Indonesia with Callum Blake returning after nursing a hamstring injury at the expense of Apo Stephen. The Philippines won the toss and took full advantage of the swinging ball early to reduce Vanuatu to 3-32 inside 7 overs thanks to Daniel Smith’s genuine pace. Nipiko and Mansale set about rebuilding the Vanuatu innings with a crucial partnership. Nipiko fell just 5 runs short of his 50 after putting on 75 runs with Mansale.
CricketPasifika reports Langa, fresh from a year away from the sport, entered the arena and looked a little bit nervous early on before accelerating Vanuatu’s innings. He put a ball over the midwicket boundary to bring up his 50 before being bowled trying a similar shot. Mansale then perished attempting to lift Vanuatu’s run rate as Vanuatu’s innings was coming to a close.
Vanuatu finished with 224 runs from their 50 overs which proved to be a very good score on a pitch that proved a little slow and with quite a sluggish outfield. Matautaava like Smith in the previous innings bowled well early to claim 2 wickets with good pace, while a couple of run outs helped to reduce the Philippines to a precarious 5/26 after 13 overs. The Philippines were never able to recover with the spinners closing out the innings with 2 wickets each to Chilia and Nalisa. The Philippines managed just 103 runs to fall a massive 121 runs short of their target with Vanuatu cementing their position at the top of the points table.