Cricket

Host nation England are the ICC's number one team as they approach the upcoming tournament, looking to claim the trophy for the very first time.

But Stokes warned that unlike in longer series' where defeats can be rectified, England cannot afford any slip ups.

"All the nations come together over a certain period and whichever team performs best over that time gets to lift the trophy," he told Omnisport, speaking courtesy of Red Bull. "You want to be that team.

Despite a sunny day in Port Moresby on Wednesday, the ground at Amini Park remained too wet underfoot, following the effects of Cyclone Trevor.

Hosts Papua New Guinea were scheduled to play both Vanuatu and the Philippines on day one of competition.

Vanuatu Cricket CEO Shane Deitz said all three teams are playing a waiting game at the moment and the best case scenario is for matches to get underway on Friday.

"The square looks reasonably dry - there's also an artificial pitch we might be able to play on," he said.

Having dominated throughout Australia's tour of the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan inflicted more misery on Aaron Finch's side to complete a 3-0 success with five balls to spare.

Babar Azam starred again at the top of the order with his second half century of the series as Pakistan made a superb start under the lights, the hosts racing to 93-0 in the 13th over.

Babar's 50 came off just 40 balls and included a superbly executed upper cut for six off Nathan Coulter-Nile, the bowler only able to watch on as the ball sailed over the third-man boundary.

The Hebou PNG Barramundis continued their impressive form in the T20 Series by posting another imposing total of 9/161 off their allotted 20 over in the final.

It was a team effort with a total of five Barramundis’ batsmen scoring more 20 runs throughout the innings, with Assad Vala top scoring with the bat with a brilliant 37 runs off just 33 balls. Tanveer Ahmed was the stand-out bowler for Hong Kong, taking an incredible 5/48.  

Vanuatu thrashed the Fijian side with 37 runs in the qualifiers at Albert Park in Suva.

The visitors won the toss plus opted to bat first and scored 158 runs in 20 overs.

In reply, Fiji only managed to score 121 runs.

FBC reports the results now means that Papua New Guinea has qualified to regional finals after getting its fourth straight win defeating Samoa by five runs.

Fiji and Vanuatu will now fight for the second place in-order to qualify to the finals alongside PNG.

It's been four years since the last East Asia Pacific qualifier in the game's shortest format when Papua New Guinea went through undefeated.

Shane Deitz said the Vanuatu squad has been working hard in preparation since returning from World Cricket League Four in May.

Two teams will advance to the East Asia Pacific Regional Final and Deitz expects all four will fancy their chances.

The Melanesian side saved their best performance for last, chasing down Denmark's 234 for 9 with five balls to spare at the weekend.

Man of the match Patrick Matautaava bagged 3 for 39 with the ball before adding a quick-fire 53 off 42 balls with the bat.

Jonathon Dunn and Joshua Rasu also notched half centuries in a 116-run opening stand.

Vanuatu finished level on points with fourth-placed Jersey but were bumped down into the relegation spots on net run rate.

After electing to bowl first in Kuala Lumpur, the Melanesians removed both openers to leave Uganda reeling at 2 for 5 in the third over.

But a series of key middle order partnerships enabled the African side to recover and post a challenging 222 for 8 from their 50 overs.

Apolinaire Stephen was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 37, while spinner Jelany Chilia conceded just 21 runs from his ten overs.

After being put into bat, the Melanesians lost wickets at regular intervals.

Coach Shane Deitz top-scored with 36 on his international debut at the ripe age of 42 and was one of only three Vanuatu players to reach doubles figures as they were dismissed for 104 in the 36th over.

Jelany Chilia bagged an impressive 3 for 30 with the ball but could not stop Jersey easing to their target with seven wickets and almost 19 overs to spare.

The Australian-born Deitz originally retired in 2008 after a decade-long career playing in South Australia and the UK.

The ball-tampering episode involving Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft has left reputations in tatters and angered and disappointed politicians, fans and former players alike.

Smith, who before the weekend was one of his country's most revered sportsmen, and Warner have both received 12-month bans by Cricket Australia Wednesday for their part in illegal tampering with the ball on day three of the third Test against South Africa.