Fiji and PNG have each booked a place in Friday's gold medal match after wins over Vanuatu and New Caledonia respectively at the Pacific Games Cricket Competition in Noumea.

In the match of the tournament so far, Fiji fought back from the jaws of defeat to snatch a four-run victory over Vanuatu. Set the modest total of 114 to win, Vanuatu were in control for the majority of the run chase before terrific bowling spells from both Viliame Yabaki and Jikoi Kida caused a late innings collapse to hand Fiji the victory.

"It's an awesome feeling to win and I haven't had that feeling for a long time," said Fiji captain Jo Rika. "Yesterday we spoke about playing to our strengths and improving our fielding and bowling and taking nothing away from our great batting performance, but we really improved in the field today."

Sakaraia Lomani was again the stand out with the bat for Fiji smashing another 44 not out and was well supported by his captain Rika who was in fine touch for his 36. In reply Vanuatu were well in control early thanks to a terrific 44 from Lenica Natapei and 27 from Andrew Mansale. However, once Mansale departed and Natapei followed soon after the young Vanuatu side struggled to deal with the spin of Yabaki who took two wickets in three balls to set up the win. Yabaki ended with figures of 4 for 21 and Kida also got well among the wickets taking 3 for 21.

In the afternoon PNG dealt the hosts New Caledonia a significant blow, defeating them by 150 runs and setting up a showdown with Fiji. New Caledonia put up a spirited fight in the field restricting PNG to 197 for 6 off their 20 overs, which considering their performance yesterday against Fiji was a great improvement from the inexperienced side.

"It is a huge pleasure to play against a side like PNG and to keep them to under 200 which was less than Fiji scored against us yesterday and was one of our targets so we are pretty happy," said Noel Sinyeue who top scored and also took two wickets. "To take six wickets against a team like PNG is a real achievement."

For PNG Kapena Arua top scored with 62 and Tony Ura once again performed brilliantly with 57. Sinyeue was the only multiple wicket-taker for New Caledonia ending with figures of 2 for 28.

After a solid performance in the field, sadly it all went downhill with the bat for New Caledonia bowled out for just 47 thanks mainly to an awesome display of bowling from Inoa Baeau who ended with the incredible figures of 5 for 3 from four overs.

Wednesday will see PNG v Fiji and Vanuatu v New Caledonia in two matches that will not influence who will play-off in the medal matches. These fixtures will be repeated again on Friday when PNG and Fiji play off for gold and Vanuatu and New Caledonia for bronze.

PNG's Arua says however they will hold nothing back against Fiji in what is effectively a dead rubber. "We always do the normal routine, we are a good side and always want to maintain our standard," he said. "We have many strengths and tomorrow we will make sure we use them."

The International Cricket Council has announced the 14-man squads for the six teams – Nigeria, Kuwait, Fiji, Guernsey, Jersey and Malaysia - participating in ICC World Cricket League Division 6 next month in Malaysia.

The finalists of the event, which will be played from 17 to 24 September, will be promoted to ICC World Cricket League Division 5 which will be staged in Singapore in early 2012.

The tournament will be played on three grounds in Kuala Lumpur, Kinrara Oval, Selangor Turf Club and Bayuemas Oval. These venues were also used for the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup which was held in Malaysia in 2009.

The full squads are as follows:

Fiji: Joe Rika (captain), Viliame Yabaki, Iniasi Cakacaka, Sakaraia Lomani, Kitione Tavo, Sekove Ravoka, Jikoi Kida, Colin Rika, Waisake Tukana, Josefa Baleicicia, Tasheed Tawheed, Maciu Gauna, Joji Bulabalavu, Mohammed Khan.

Guernsey: Stuart Le Provost (captain), Gary Rich, Tom Kimber, Jeremy Frith, James Nussbaumer, Ben Ferbrache, David Hooper, Tim Ravenscroft, Ross Kneller, Chris van Vliet, Stuart Bisson, Lee Savident, Adam Martel, GH Smit

Jersey: Peter Gough (captain), Ed Farley, Thomas Minty, Sam de la Haye, Charles Perchard, James Faudemer, Ben Stevens, Anthony Hawkins-Kay, Ben Silva, Dean Morrison, Alex Cooke, Paul Connolly, Corey Bisson, Daniel Garton

Kuwait: Hisham Mirza (captain), Sibtain Raza, Muhammad Amin, Abid Mushtaq, Aamir Javed, Irfan Bhatti, Ahsan Naseer, Azmatullah Nazeer, Abdullah, Mohammad Murad, Sharjeel Tahir, Jagath Roshantha, Saud Qamar

Malaysia: Suhan Kumar Alagaratanam (captain), Sureah Navaratnam, Rakesh Madhavan, Hammad Ullah Khan, Hassan Ghulam Muhammad, Ahmad Faiz Noor, Shukri Abdul Rahim, Eszrafiq Azis, Abdul Rashid Ahad, Shafiq Sharf, Faris Almas-Lee Rosmanizam, Aminudin Ramly, Shahrulnizam Yusof, Hiran Brahman Ralalage

Nigeria: Endurance Ofem (captain), Ademola Onikoya, Obejide Bejide, Varun Behani, Chukwu James, Ramit Gill, Joshua Ogunlola, Saheed Akolade, Segun Olayinka, Chibuike Iteogu, Seun Odeku, Lekan Awolowo, Seye Olympio, Kunle Adegbola

The full schedule for WCL Div. 6 is as follows:

Fixtures

15 September – Team Arrivals
16 September – Practice
17 September – Guernsey v Jersey (Kinrara Oval), Malaysia v Kuwait (Selangor Turf Club), Fiji v Nigeria (Bayuemas Oval)
18 September – Malaysia v Nigeria (Kinrara Oval), Kuwait v Jersey (Selangor Turf Club), Guernsey v Fiji (Bayuemas Oval)
19 September – Reserve Day
20 September – Malaysia v Fiji (Kinrara Oval), Jersey v Nigeria (Selangor Turf Club), Kuwait v Guernsey (Bayuemas Oval)
21 September – Fiji v Kuwait (Kinrara Oval), Nigeria v Guernsey (Selangor Turf Club), Malaysia v Jersey (Bayuemas Oval)
22 September – Reserve Day
23 September – Malaysia v Guernsey (Kinrara Oval), Jersey v Fiji (Selangor Turf Club), Nigeria v Kuwait (Bayuemas Oval)
24 September – Final (Kinrara Oval), 3rd/4th Play-off (Selangor Turf Club), 5th/6th Play-off (Bayuemas Oval)

THE Fiji Blues men's team will give themselves the best chance for success at World Cricket League Division 6 in September after confirming a one-week camp in Singapore before the tournament.

The 14-man squad, which will be named next week, will get the use of Singapore's state of the art facilities for the camp which includes both turf and synthetic wickets, international-standard grounds and an indoor training venue.

They will also play two warm-up matches against the Singapore A team.

Click here for the full story from the Fiji Times

The Suva Capitals scored their first win in this season’s EPL with a 63-run victory over the Sigatoka Dunes in Nadi last Saturday. The win was sparked by a 75-run partnership between Inoke Cama and Colin Rika, while a quickfire 51 off 38 balls by Greg Browne sealed the winning total.

The Capitals batted first and after the loss of Tomasi Nawaciono in just the third over, Cama and Rika settled in for a sparkling batting partnership that threatened to take the game away from the Dunes. Their partnership featured some excellent cover drives and good running between the wickets in the face of an impressive opening spell from pace bowler Tukana Tavo (1 for 34).

They moved to 81 for 1 in the 15th over before the partnership was broken by Waisake Sivo in his first over as he trapped Rika in front for 23. He followed it up with the wicket of Rukesh Patel with the next ball to bring the Dunes back into the game.

When Cama (34) was run out after a mid-wicket mix up with Browne the Capitals had quickly slumped to 84 for 4. The wickets continued to tumble and when Anare Tuidraki was run out the Capitals found themselves with just one wicket in hand and the score on 137.

However, Browne combined with Metui Yalimaiwai to put on 37 for the last wicket to boost the team’s score to 174. While the young Yalimaiwai may not have scored many of those runs his ability to keep his wicket intact provided the Capitals with the opportunity to post a defendable total.

Tharinda Premasiri (2 for 14) and Gaurang Patel (2 for 38) were the best of the Dunes bowlers. In reply, the Dunes were well placed to chase the total as they quickly moved the score to 63 for 1 thanks to some patient batting by Tharinda Premasiri.

However, when Anare Tuidraki (3 for 32) produced a wicket with his first ball claiming Bruce Phillip the rot set in for the Dunes. There was no support for Premasiri and when he was dismissed by Viliame Yabaki (3 for 21) for 30 the Dunes’ chances of victory went with him.

A spectacular running catch on the boundary by Sakaraia Lomani that dismissed Ilikena Bula was the final straw for the Dunes and they succumbed shortly thereafter for 111. The result gives the Capitals their first win of the season while the Dunes remain winless after two rounds.

In Lautoka, the Lau Voyagers recorded a comfortable victory over a disappointing Western Bulldogs team. Batting first the Bulldogs were dismissed for a paltry 52 runs, with only Joe Rika (19) showing any resistance.

Joe Dabea claimed 3 for 11 from five overs, while legspinner Rajeev Patel was the best of the other bowlers taking 2 for 9. The Bulldogs chased down the total in just the ninth over thanks to opener Sekove Ravoka’s innings of 31.

The result leaves the Voyagers on top of the EPL ladder with two wins from two games, while the Bulldogs will have to regroup quickly if they are to be a real threat in this competition.

Lautoka Voyagers marked their Fiji Elite Player League debut in style by beating defending champions Suva Capitals by 127 runs in Albert Park last week.

A superb partnership of 127 by Sekove Ravoka and Waisake Tukaha saw the Voyagers post an impressive 266 for 8 from their 50 overs against a Capitals' attack that included two Fiji Blues representatives. Their partnership featured both quick singles and an ability to punish the bad ball with a series of crisp drives and would have impressed the Fiji selectors who were at the ground.

Their partnership was finally broken in the 29th over with the score at 145 for 2. Captain Jo Dabea then played a wonderful cameo with a quick-fire 50 that eventually took the score to 266, leaving the Capitals a massive total to chase. Medium pacer Peni Dakaiwas was the pick of the Capitals' attack taking 3 for 36, while Viliame Yabaki gave good support, claiming 3 for 43.

In reply, Capitals' openers Tomasi Nawaciono and Viliame Yabaki batted with intent, regularly finding the boundary to build a solid platform and at 96 for 2 in the 15th over, they looked poised to chase down the large target. Instead, occasional offspinner Joji Bulabalavu halted the Capitals' momentum, snaring four quick wickets. When Tukaha grabbed two more Capitals were reeling at 121 for 6 and the focus turned to survival. None of the late order was able to rally and Suva were bowled out for 139.

In the other game, Western Bulldogs overcame their own batting woes to eventually defeat Sigatoka Dunes with relative ease by five wickets. Sigatoka, troubled by Bulldogs paceman, Kit Tavo, lacked someone capable of capitalising on a good start and were bowled out for 114.

Tavo, returning to representative cricket for the first time in two years, took two early wickets in a devastating spell to finish with 3 for 10 from 7.2 overs. Symptomatic of the Dunes' batting was the fact Iniasi Cakacaka and Gaurang Patel were their top-scorers with 15. Manase Ravula, just back from a tour with the Under-17 national side also bowled well, finishing with 4 for 29 from nine overs.

What appeared to be a straightforward task for the Bulldogs was complicated by three quick wickets from Tukana Tavo who had the Westerners in early trouble at 18 for 2. With the match in the balance Maciu Gauna and Kiti Tavo came together and quickly moved the score to 67 for 4 by lunch through a combination of smart running and a flurry of boundaries.

But when Tahrinda Premasiri trapped Gauna in front for 34 just after the lunch break the match swung further in the favour of the Dunes, as the Bulldogs slumped to 76 for 5. However, some lusty hitting from Kiti Tavo, including three big sixes was enough to see the Bulldogs home with five wickets to spare. Tavo's unbeaten 57 combined with his impressive bowling spell earned man of the match honours.

Next week, as befitting a national league, the two matches will be played outside Suva: the Western Bulldogs play the Suva Capitals at Namaka Public School, Nadi, while the Sigatoka Dunes take on the Lau Voyagers at Central College, Lautoka.

A busy 2011 for the national team and the addition of a fourth team will increase the importance of Fiji's Elite Player League (EPL), which starts its second season this weekend.

The Fiji Blues will play in three international tournaments next year, and the EPL, featuring four composite teams of the country's best players, is the players' main chance to impress national selectors.

The Lau Voyagers, led by the experienced Joe Dabea, make their league debut against Western Bulldogs at Albert Park 1. The Voyagers, an exciting mix of youth and experience, will count on two youngsters likely to come into national team reckoning: batsman Sekove Ravoka, who has already played for the Fiji Blues, and 16-year-old Ebrahim Cassim, who is expected to also play for Fiji soon.

Both young batsmen play a game that the national selectors are looking for, working the ball around and playing along the ground. Adding invaluable experience to the team will be allrounder Waisake Tukaha, who will pose a danger with both bat and ball to the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs will be led by national captain, Joe Rika, one of the country's best batsmen. He’ll be helped by his Fiji Blues team-mate, Maciu Gauna, and the pair will form the backbone of the Bulldogs batting. Providing attacking firepower will be allrounders Kiti Tavo and Tauyesa Vakarau, who are both explosive lower-order hitters capable of taking an attack apart on their day. Tavo returns to Cricket Fiji’s elite program after almost two years and will be looking to show that he is still a valuable player.

In the weekend’s other match the Suva Capitals, the winners of the first EPL, take on Sigatoka Dunes at Albert Park 2. Suva will be led by legspinner and former Under-19 national captain, Viliame Yabaki. The bowling attack, however, will be led by Fiji fast bowler Sakaraia Lomani, regarded as one of the country's most dangerous bowlers.

Suva's batting includes two promising players making their EPL debuts - Rukesh Patel and Mosese Ravula. Patel dominated the recent Under-19 Western Conference so he will be keen to prove he can handle the senior competition.

Sigatoka will be looking for a strong performance from their captain, the experienced allrounder, Iniasi Cakacaka. The captain combines wily offspinners with good batting ability. His main support with the bat will be Eric Browne, who keen to earn a national team recall, while young paceman Tukana Tavo will lead the bowling attack, causing plenty of problems with his pace and bounce.

This match looks set to be a close fought battle that will provide an exciting start to the 2010 EPL season.

Suva Warriors have won the re-scheduled Easter tournament final thanks to match-winning innings from Noa Acawei and Mesui Qalobula.

Moce elected to bat first, however, when Cakacaka Sau was bowled by Sak Lomani without offering a shot the innings was off to a poor start. Suva continued to build the momentum as Lomani and Sam Draunivudi struck twice each to leave Moce reeling at 28 for 4. The Lau Islanders slipped further, to 36 for 6, before the recovery began.

Jimione Duvu (18) and Iliesa Tale (16) helped steady the ship for Moce with some attacking hitting against a strong Suva bowling lineup to help them reach a competitive total of 9/94 from their twenty overs.

The Moce bowlers started in the same vein as their Suva counterparts by claiming early wickets. Tagilala Rakuita (2 for 15) and Bale Taione (2 for 11) got the early breakthroughs to leave Suva in deep trouble at 6 for 32. Fortunately for the capital city side, Noa Acawei (43 not out) and Mesui Qalobula (26 not out) stepped forward to lead the charge to victory. They stepped up the run-rate towards the end and Acawei brought up the win with a six.

Suva Warriors had cruised into the final with a comfortable five wicket win over Western Tigers in Monday's first semi-final. The Tigers were shot out for 69 thanks to Draunivudi (2 for 6) and Lomani (2 for14). Qalobula (31) steered the Warriors home for an easy win.

Moce's path to the final was just as easy as they breezed past Suva Crusaders in the second semi-final. Thanks to a five wicket haul from Sekope Biaunicava and a hard hitting 32 from Sau the Lau Islanders overcame the strong Crusaders team.

Biaunicava bowled four of the first five Crusader batsmen to leave the Suva combination at 5-10. The Crusaders did manage 78 all-out, a target which posed Moce with few problems. Cakacaka Sau gave the Moce innings early impetus and the Lau Islanders earned their place in the title decider.

A team from Sydney is amongst the eight taking part in this weekend's annual Easter tournament in Suva, Fiji.

Friends United Sports Club will join seven representatives sides from across Fiji to conest the event, which will be played using the Twenty/20 format for the first time.

The return of Komo and Oneata from the Lau group of islands reflects the rejuvenation of the tournament, which has struggled in recent years to attract teams. Previously, it was common for teams from New Zealand and Australia to take part in the three-day event which traditionally is the biggest in Fijian cricket, as well as the Tongan national team.

Also returning are teams from Lautoka and Nadi, from the western side of the main island, Viti Levu.

The eight teams will be split into two pools of four with pool games being played on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with the semi finals and grand final being played on Monday.

Fiji and Samoa will contest the Women's Challenge Series between February 2 and 5 in Apia, Samoa to determine the team that shall complete the pool for the 2010 ICC
EAP Women's Cricket Trophy. The winner is to be determined in a three game 50-over
series to be played at the pristine Samoa Gardens Ovals in Apia, Samoa.

ICC EAP Tournament Manager Nick Frayne commented, "This series is an extremely
important one and the first of its kind in the EAP Region. This is the beginning of the pathway
for the EAP teams to hopefully progress all the way to the next ICC Women's
World Cup."

Fiji has already commenced preparations for the encounter, hosting the inaugural Cricket Fiji Women's Cricket Championship over five days from January 12 in Suva, Fiji. The tournament boasts five teams from across Fiji, and the national squad to contest Samoa shall be selected from this group following the tournament's close.

Hosts Japan and defending champions Papua New Guinea have already booked their places to the 2010 ICC EAP Women's Cricket Trophy to be held in Sano City, Japan between 4 and 8 May. This will be the first time that the EAP Region has had more than two teams contest a Women's Regional Tournament, and with Tonga, Indonesia and several other EAP
Members continuing to grow the women's game these numbers are sure to increase.

The Moce Islanders have won the inaugural National Women’s Cricket Championship despite a slight hiccup on the final day.

Moce lost their final game against Suva Flying Angels but still managed to lead the points tally at the end of the week long tournament. The game was a nail biter with Suva winning the toss and electing to bat first. Sera Kaukiono (17) and Luanne Rika (17) opened the batting and got Suva off to a good start before Kaukiono smashed a ball to square leg only to see the fielder hold the hottest of chances. Iva Volavola (16) batted patiently in the middle order to help steer her team to a competitive total of 103. Mereia Tilau was the pick of the Moce bowlers taking 5 for 21 while Ana Maidela also chipped in with three wickets.

The win looked all but assured for Suva as they raced through the top order to leave Moce struggling at 39 for 8, but the Islanders were not done yet. Miriam Talatoka was part of two partnerships that each put on 30 to bring Moce within striking distance of victory. However, when Luanne Rika bowled Talatoka for 28 the Moce innings was finished just four runs short of their target.

Despite the loss, Moce finished ahead of Suva thanks to their extra bonus points accrued during the tournament, ensuring they would take the first National Women’s Championship back to the Lau Islands.

At the Army Barracks Ground, Nadi Jetsetters recorded their second win of the tournament by outclassing Veimataqali on the final day.After winning the toss and electing to bat the runs were shared equally among the batsmen as they amassed an impressive 206. Makalesi Mada top scored with 24 while opener Makerita Tuidraki set the basis for the innings with 23. Ana Topati and Talei Soko each claimed three wickets for Veimataqali.

The Veimataqali bats never really got going in the run chase as they were dismissed for 35, giving the Jetsetters a 171-run victory. Mareta Vuadrea was the best of the Nadi bowlers taking 6 for 13 from her seven overs. The win pushed Nadi to eight points, level with Suva but the Jetsetters finished ahead of the Angles on net run rate.

Tony Munro

Suva Capitals have clinched Fiji's Elite Player League (EPL) title, thanks to Jikoi Kida’s star turn in the deciding match against Sigatoka Dunes in Nadi on Saturday. The title was on the line with all three league sides in with a chance depending on the result of the game. The Capitals emerged winners after sneaking home in the low-scoring game that put them ahead of Western Bulldogs on run-rate.

The Dunes got off to a good start and, at 49 for 1 after ten overs, looked good to post a formidable score. Kida, however, changed the complexion of proceedings when he removed Sekove Ravoka for a patient 27, in the process triggering a collapse. He proceeded to wreck the Dunes’ innings, claiming 7 for 26 in his ten overs. Joe Rika, looking for much-important match practice prior to his stint with the East Asia Pacific representative team in Australia, gave the innings stability with a number of impressive drives on his way to 44. When Kida found his way through Rika’s defences, the innings folded up for 132.

The Capitals’ response looked set to follow the same pattern with Omid Saberi and Sekove Vouvou putting on a 38-run opening stand before Saberi followed up a couple of slashed drives with an ambitious loft to be caught off the bowling of Viliame Yabaki. The Dunes stayed in the hunt thanks to a spell of tight spin from Yabaki and Malcolm Bossley where five wickets fell at regular intervals. The game was in the balance when Bossley sent back Kida at 79 for 5. The Dunes had to restrict the Capitals to less than 105 to win the tournament on run-rate. However, their hopes were shattered by the lower-order efforts of Greg Browne, Tanveer Shah and Peni Rika who ensured that their side sealed a three-wicket victory in 40 overs.

Cricket Fiji will shortly announce a National Training Squad for the World Cricket League Division 5 tournament to be hosted in Nepal, with players selected based on their EPL performances.

The Western Bulldogs have placed themselves in the box seat to claim the Elite Player League (EPL) title after a thrilling two-wicket win over Sigatoka Dunes at the Namaka Public School ground on Saturday.

Three players made their debut in what was the best game of the EPL so far. Joe Rika came in after returning from club cricket in Australia, while two members of Nadi’s Under-19 team, Anare Tuidraki and Vakaru Tauyesa, were drafted in after impressive performances during the Under-19 tournament.

Sigatoka batted first and posted a good score of 218 for 8 from their fifty overs.

Sekove Ravoka was the Dunes’ leading light with the bat as he scored a composed 72. Heeding the words of Steve Jenkin, the National Coach who told the players that he wanted more application and fight with the bat, Ravoka played the sort of innings that the pundits had been tipping him to produce at some stage of the EPL.

David Kachor (38) and Sevunivola Baba (21) formed solid partnerships with Ravoka to build a solid total for the Dunes.

Experienced spinner Iniasi Cakacaka was the best of the Bulldogs bowlers claiming 3 for 35, including the prized wicket of Ravoka with a well-flighted delivery that drew Ravoka from the crease only to have the bails whipped off by Tavo Sorovakatini.

Paceman Sakaraia Lomani also claimed 3 for 45 from his ten overs.
Set a challenging task the Bulldogs were always going to have to bat well to chase down the target.

Cakacaka and Tavo Sorovakatini opened the batting for the Bulldogs and put on a 61-run partnership in the first twelve overs to get their team off to good start.

Sorovakatini, who had been brutal on anything loose, was eventually dismissed by Lee Waqa for 44. Cakacaka continued the run chase taking the team’s total beyond the 100 mark before he was trapped in front by debutant Anare Tuidraki.

After a few mid-innings stutters, Joe Rika took charge, with 75 still required. Despite injuring a groin muscle during his innings Rika (34 not out) batted on with a runner to get the Bulldogs to their total. Along the way he was helped by Tauyesa, who made 20, and an unbeaten 12 from Lomani, as the Bulldogs reached the target with five overs and two wickets to spare.

The win puts the Bulldogs two points in front the Dunes and Suva Capitals on the league table. Victory next week against the Capitals will clinch the EPL title, while a Capitals win will leave the title open going into the last match on December 19th.

Cloudy skies and intermittent drizzle failed to dampen an exciting day’s play at the Army Barracks Ground as Suva Capitals hosted Sigatoka Dunes in the Fijian Elite Player League’s Round 3 match on Saturday.

Capitals had suffered at the hands of Western Bulldogs last week, but they managed a 148-run win against Dunes. Batting first, Capitals lost two early wickets as Lee Waqa struck twice in his first three overs to leave the home side tottering at 13 for 2. However, skipper Joe Dabea joined with Fiji Blues team-mate Kida Jikoivanualevu to steady the ship and build an 82-run partnership through confident strokeplay and excellent running between the wickets.

While Dabea was dismissed for 37, Kida continued to attack, closing in on a maiden EPL century. But as he lofted a Viliame Yabaki delivery to the long-on boundary, Waqa charged in and took a spectacular diving catch, leaving Kida seven short of three figures.

Some tidy lower-order batting from Greg Browne (20) and big hitting from Mesui Qalobula (18 not out) helped Capitals post 219 for 8 from their 50 overs. Yabaki was the most successful bowler for Dunes, taking 3 for 35, while Waqa claimed 2 for 40.

The Dunes batsmen never got going in their reply. Vilikesa Driu caused the most damage taking 4 for 25, while Inoke Cama claimed three wickets. Dunes were shot out for 71, with Sekove Ravoka top scoring with a patient 21. However, once Driu found a leading edge from Ravoka’s bat, Dunes' innings quickly fell apart. David Kachor, who scored a century in the last game, fell a four-ball duck, while Joji Bulabalavu, the team's last hope, played a poor shot to Cama.

Capitals' win leaves each team with one win from two games at the halfway mark, with each in with a chance of claiming the title. Dunes take on Bulldogs in next week’s match in Lautoka.

The Sigatoka Dunes have stamped their mark on the Elite Player League with an impressive performance resulting in a comfortable victory over the Western Bulldogs in the competition’s first match.

The Player of the Match award was shared by the two players who led the Dunes charge to victory: David Kachor scoring an unbeaten century and Lee Waqa claimed 7 for 16.

The Dunes batted in a style expected of players aiming for selection in the national squad. Opener Joji Bulabalavu (30) got the Dunes off to a good start before a 71-run partnership between Patrick Tuidraki and Kachor set the groundwork for a big Dunes total. The pair worked the ball around well during their partnership and regularly turned the strike over to keep the Bulldogs bowlers frustrated.

With the help of some late-order hitting from Waqa (17) the Dunes were able to add 87 runs for the last 12 overs to finish on 6 for 206 from their 50 overs, with Kachor unbeaten on 100.Peni Rika was the best of the Bulldogs bowlers claiming 3 for 56 with his legspinners.

Chasing the large total the Bulldogs batsmen never got going, due mainly to an outstanding display of pace bowling from Waqa. None of the Bulldogs batsmen reached double figures as they were dismissed for a paltry 26 runs in just 12.4 overs, giving the Dunes a 180-run victory.

Waqa was on fire, bowling with pace, swing and unerring accuracy as he repeatedly worked through the Bulldogs’ defence to claim his wickets. Of his seven victims in the match six were bowled, a testament to the accuracy of his spell.

At the other end youngster Vuli Tawatautau showed that he is a player to watch for the future by claiming the remaining three wickets for just 10 runs from 6 overs.

The Bulldogs will look to bounce back next week when they play Suva Capitals at Central College, Lautoka, but there will have to be an improved commitment to batting with patience and commitment if they are to beat the Suva team.

The Dunes will now have to wait until November 28th for their next game against the Captials at the Army Barracks ground.

Match Summary

Sigatoka Dunes 6 for 206 (D Kachor 100 not out, J Bulabalavu 30, P Rika 3-56) defeated Western Bulldogs 26 (L Waqa 7-16, V Tawatautau 3-10) by 180 runs.

Fiji will become the latest non-Test country to run a domestic competition for its best players when the Elite Player League commences on Saturday.

The best 39 players from the islands will be placed into three teams - the Suva Capitals, the Sigatoka Dunes and the Western Bulldogs with each team playing four matches according to international ODI rules.

“The aim of the competition is to get the best players playing against each other on a regular basis,” said Cricket Fiji’s High Performance Manager, Steve Jenkin. “That way we will know who has earned their place in the national squad.”

Previously, national team players were spread throughout three or four leagues across the islands, and the better players only played each other at the annual Easter tournament.

Cricket Fiji officials see the League as a means to increase competition for places in the national team.

“If players are hoping to be in the team to Nepal for the World Cricket League Division Five next February, then they will have to perform well in this competition,” said Jenkin. “After all, they need to play well among the best players in Fiji, and this is what this competition is about – the best from Fiji.”

The introduction of the EPL is the latest phase in the growth of Fiji’s tournament structure to support the development of players for international cricket. This will continue later this month with the first Under-19 National Championship Tournament which will be played in November and December in two conferences – the Lau Conference and the Viti Levu Conference.

The draw:

November 14: Sigatoka Dunes v Western Bulldogs (Army Barracks Ground)

November 21: Suva Capitals v Western Bulldogs (Lautoka)

November 28: Suva Capitals v Sigatoka Dunes (Army Barracks Ground)

December 5: Sigatoka Dunes v Western Bulldogs (Lautoka)

December 12: Suva Capitals v Western Bulldogs (Suva Army Barracks Ground)

December 19: Suva Capitals v Sigatoka Dunes (Lautoka)

The squads:

Sigatoka Dunes - Viliame Yabaki (Capt.), Ilikena Bula, Sevunivola Baba, Sakove Ravoka, Joji Bulabalavu, Mosese Tarau, Lee Waqa, Vuli Tawatautau, Apolosi Lewai, David Kachor, Noa Acawei, Jikoi Kida, Patrick Tuidraki

Suva Capitals - Josefa Dabea (Capt.), Seru Tupou, Inoke Buadromo, Sakove Vouvou, Tanweer Shah, Tukana Tavo, Peni Rika, Peni Dakai, Albert Hill, Tasheed Tawheed, Vilikesa Driu, Omid Saberi, Iniasa Cakacaka

Western Bulldogs - Josefa Sorovakatini (Capt.), Saimoni Matasarasara, Logavatu Sorovakatini, Brice Philip, Eric Browne, Sakaraia Lomani, Rajeev Patel, Malcolm Bossley, Rahul Pala, Gaurang Patel, Greg Browne, Jone Sevou, Lajipa

Tony Munro

The Fiji Blues, the men’s national cricket team, has been selected for this year’s East Asia Pacific Cricket Trophy. The squad includes a number of changes from the team that competed for the Stafford-Knight Trophy series in Vanuatu in May.

Greg Browne, Josefa Rika and Australian based Seci Tuiwai join the squad along with Seru Tupou, who impressed at the Under-19 East Asia Pacific Cricket tournament. Kida Jikoivanualevu and Taniela Waqa have also been added to the team.

“We have used this tournament as an opportunity to have a look at some of the players in international competition prior to our important World Cricket League competition in Nepal in January next year,” Cricket Fiji’s High Performance Manager, Stephen Jenkin said.

“There are a number of players who have been a bit unlucky to miss out on a place in this squad because of their past performances and good training attitude, but they are still very much in contention for a place in the Blues come Nepal.”

The tournament will take place in Samoa from September 17 to 26 and will be split into two sections.

The first section will be a Twenty20 tournament where the eight competing nations will be split into two pools of four teams with the winners of each pool facing each other in the final.

The second section will be played using a 50-over format with the Blues playing against the two other World Cricket League countries – Papua New Guinea and Japan – in a double round robin competition.

Squad:
Josefa Sorovakatini (C), Josefa Dabea, Josefa Rika, Greg Browne, Iniasi Cakacaka, Joji Bulabalavu, Josaia Baba, Kida Jikoivanualevu, Maciu Babiau, Sakaraia Lomani, Seci Tuiwai, Seru Tupou, Taniela Waqa, Viliame Yabaki.

Non-Travelling Reserves:
Inoke Cama, Eric Browne, Peni Rika, Tukana Tavo.

Papua New Guinea are the East Asia-Pacific Under-19 champions after they beat Vanuatu by 172 runs in the final at Amini Park, Port Moresby.

PNG won the toss and elected to bat in overcast conditions and scored freely early on, reaching 24 without loss before Lega Tau was well caught by Karl Laau from the bowling of Niko Unavalu. Heni Siaka was hitting everything in the middle, and started to free his arms, ably supported by middle-order batsmen Tony Ura (27) and Jason Kila (48).

The talented Siaka scored his maiden century for PNG, by far the best innings of the tournament. He was eventually dismissed for 101, but by then the damage had been done and PNG raced towards a huge total, batting their full 50 overs reaching 276 for 8.

It was to take a monumental effort by Vanuatu to chase down these runs, and early on the fielding talents of PNG rose to the fore, with two magnificent run-outs reducing Vanuatu to 31 for 2. They fought on valiantly before they were eventually dismissed for 103 after 34 overs. Jason Kila was the chief destroyer with 4 for 20.

In the battle for 3rd place at Colts Ground, Fiji beat Indonesia by six wickets in a game affected by rain.

PNG and Vanuatu will head to Canada to participate in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier.

ICC staff

Tony Munro

Fiji have begun the rebuilding process by naming a new-look squad for next month's Stafford-Knight series against Vanuatu.

A change of captain and the promotion of three Under-19 national team players are among the changes from the one which finished fifth at last year's World Cricket League Division Four tournament in Tanzania. The team inished last in group matches, winning just the one game over Tanzania, but won the fifth-place play-off match against Jersey. As a result, they will play in Division Five in 2010.

Colin Rika, the former captain, is a reserve for the 14-man squad which will play against Vanuatu in two consecutive best-of-three series in Vila. Weather permitting, six games will be played, all using ODI 50-over-per-side rules.

Six players from last year's Division Four squad have been omitted and a captain is yet to be named. The three U-19 players are wicket-keeper Maciu Babiau, opener Seru Makutu and legspinner Viliame Yabaki.

Cricket Fiji High Performance Manager Steve Jenkin, who will coach the team, said it was clear change was required and the Vanuatu matches would be used to identify what that was. "We did not have a good result in Tanzania and we need to improve and that means hard work. I am not sure we will change the way we play - I’ll know more after Vanuatu - but we will certainly have to be more consistent at being good. We want to regain our previous position within ICC.”

Fiji will play in the East Asia-Pacific Trophy in Samoa in September. These games are part of the performance assessment criteria for Vanuatu's application for Associate membership. Fiji won last year's series against Vanuatu 2-0.

Fiji squad: (captain to be named)

Josaia Baba, Maciu Babiau, Eric Browne, Joji Bulabalavu, Iniasi Cakacaka, Josefa Dabea, Samu Draunivudi, Sakaraia Lomani, Seru Makutu, Joeli Mateyawa, Peni Rika, Jone Sevou, Josefa Sorovakatini, Viliame Yabaki; reserves – Malcolm Bossley, Colin Rika, Omid Saberi, Tukana Tavo.

A Man-of-the-Match performance by Jone Sevou with both bat and ball was the difference for Suva 1 in the final of Cricket Fiji’s Easter tournament against Suva 2 in Suva. Sevou took 5 for 20 and then backed it up with an unbeaten 62 to steer Suva 1 to a four-wicket win over Suva 2.

With the start of play delayed by half an hour due to overnight rain, a low-scoring match was expected on a still damp outfield. Suva 2 won the toss and elected to bat hoping for a good start from national players Joe Rika and Joji Bulabalavu.

However, it was Samu Draunivudi who made the first break claiming Rika with the total on 5. While Bulabalavu held down one end wickets fell regularly at the other, with Sevou cutting a swathe through the middle-order to claim his five wickets.

Kiti Tavo mopped up three wickets, while Waisake Tukaha eventually dismissed Bulabalavu for 40, the only Suva 2 batsman to reach double figures in an otherwise uninspiring batting performance. In the end, they posted 107 which was hardly a total that struck fear into the Suva 1 batsmen.

Sevou, fresh from his wicket-taking feats, opened the batting and compiled 62 not out to lead Suva 1 team to the target.

Iniasi Cakacaka was the best of the Suva 2 bowlers taking 3 for 30, while national Under-19 hopeful Rahul Pala claimed 2 for 30.

However, some big hitting from Kiti Tavo at the end of the innings, including a six to hit the winning runs, was enough to reach the target for the loss of six wickets.

The national selectors will now use the performances over the weekend’s tournament to select the national U-19 team for this year’s East Asia Pacific U-19 trophy and the senior national team for a series against Vanuatu in May.

Both teams will be named within the next week.

The final of Cricket Fiji’s Easter tournament will be an all Suva affair after the final pool games were played on Saturday.

The main action of the day was at Suva Grammar where Suva 2 was playing Moce 1, with the winner to go through to Monday’s final against Suva 1. The match turned out to be the second thriller in a row for Moce as they fought to chase the Suva 2 total of 117.

Mosese Tale (19) and Vuli Babiau (11) got the islanders off to a good start but some cheap middle order wickets left Suva in a good position to polish off the game. Tukana Tavo took 3 for 29, while Malcolm Bossley took 3 for 39.

At 86 for 9 it all looked over, but like yesterday the Moce tail wagged, and Vulawalu Sigala and Tagilala Rakuita took the score beyond the 100 mark with a solid tail-end partnership.

However, when Vula hoisted Greg Browne to long-off it was all over as Joji Bulabalavu took a running catch that skirted the boundary. There was some confusion as to whether he had stepped over the boundary, but umpire Walesi took the time to check and then confirmed the wicket for Suva’s win.

At the Army Ground, Suva 1 finished their pool games in style with a comfortable win over Fiji West. Waisake Tukaha scored an impressive 56 in Suva’s total of 116 before Jone Sevou cleaned up the Fiji West batting order, taking 6 for 12 in the West’s total of 55.

At Albert Park, Tubou posted a strong 188 thanks to solid contributions from Jone Wesele, Joe Sorovakatini and Josefa Tuberi. Koli Mocevakaca took 3 for 24 and was ably supported by Ledua Viliame, whose 3 for 36 helped stem the Tubou tide.

In response the Moce 2 bats never got going. with only Volau Sefenaia (11) reaching double figures as wickets fell regularly. Iliesi Waqa was the main destroyer for Tubou with 7 for 19 in another impressive bowling performance, giving him 12 wickets in the past two games.

Day two:

The second day of Fiji's Easter tournament being played at several venues in the national capital, Suva, threw up some big hitting at the main ground, Albert Park, a thrilling finish at Suva Grammar and a comfortable victory for Suva in their match at the Army Ground.

The Easter tournament is an annual event which features composite teams from the various regions where cricket is played in Fiji.

Tubou and Moce, from the Lau Islands in the country's east, played a thriller that had the crowd hooting with delight in the final stages. Tubou won the toss and Joe Sorovakatini elected to bat. Jone Wesele and Jerry Baba put on a good middle-order partnership to get Tubou to a respectable, but very gettable 110 after being dismissed in the 27th over. The experienced Maika Kamikamica took 5 for 29 in the Tubou innings, ably supported by Sau Cakacaka and Kolinio Tawalokuci, who snared two wickets each.

In response Moce lost wickets at regular intervals with only Bale Taione (27) and Mosese Tale (17) reaching double figures as they struggled to reach the total. Iliesa Waqanituinatau caused problems with his pace, claiming 5 for 30, while allrounder Joe Dabea chipped in with 4 for 35 to have Moce in all sorts of trouble.

With the score 81 for 9 very few people would have expected a Moce win as No. 11 batsman Malakai Tenio strode out to the middle. However, in partnership with Jimione Duvu, the pair slowly built towards their required target. Some lusty hitting and scrambled singles were enough to keep the score ticking over while Tubou looked for the vital last wicket.

A boundary to Malakai eventually brought scores level and the crowd were on the edge of their seats to see what would happen. In the endJone Wesele broke Moce hearts when he claimed the wicket of Malakai with the scores level. It would have been one of the great comebacks in Easter Tournament history, but as it ended up the points were shared by both teams.

At Albert Park Fiji West scored an imposing 197 in 49 overs of batting thanks largely to an impressive 90 by Maciu Babiau. The young wicketkeeper was savage on some of the Suva bowling, smashing a number of huge sixes in his innings. Fiji West consists of players from Lautoka and Nadi and are fresh from playing in the recently resurrected Western Cricket League which had been defunct for several years.

Tukana Tavo and Greg Browne claimed two wickets each, but this was looking to be a batsman’s game with none more impressive than Babiau. When it was Suva’s turn to bat the team realised they would need someone to take a leading hand if they were to reach the target, especially with rain clouds closing in. Up stepped Joji Bulabalavu, fresh from his match-winning innings in last week’s Suva Cricket League final, to smash an unbeaten 79 to help Suva to 114 for 4 when an afternoon shower stopped play.

Viliame Mana was the best of the Fiji West bowlers with 3 for 28, but Bulabalavu’s innings was enough to boost Suva’s run rate above Fiji West when the rain storm meant there could be no more play today.

At the Army Ground, Suva (1), brimming with national representatives, comfortably beat Moce (2). Moce relied on a tail end partnership between Cama Ledua (35) and Kesoni Qoriniasi to get their score to 72. In reply, Suliasi Naulivou (34) and Waisake Tukaha (28) brought Suva to within reach of the total before Kiti Tavo finished the game off with a six for Suva’s second win in a row.

Day one:


A wet and overcast day may have limited run scoring on the opening day of this year’s Easter Tournament but it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the players who are battling for their association to claim this year’s title. The overcast and humid conditions assisted the bowlers in the first day’s play as they dominated the bat in low scoring matches.

At Suva Grammar, Suva (2) got an early jump on Moce (2) thanks to an impressive opening bowling spell by the team’s two Fiji Under-19 reps. Tukana Tavo was unlucky to go wicketless, but he caused many a problem for the Moce batsmen in a fiery opening spell where he consistently beat the bat and had a couple of edges fly over the heads of the slips cordon.

At the other end Rahul Pala claimed the first three Moce wickets to put the islanders on the back foot early in their innings. Apart from a handy 21 by Tetu, the Moce batsmen never really go going with wickets falling at regular intervals. Uluseli Mainiusaladi formed the best partnership with Tetu, but a solid bowling spell by Iniasi Cakacaka followed by Eric Browne’s four-wicket demolition of the tail cleaned up Moce for a modest 69.

Suva (2) would have been quietly confident of getting the runs with little trouble, but the Moce opening bowlers had different thoughts. Kolinil Mocevakaca bowled an impressive opening spell and was getting enough movement off the pitch to cause headaches for the Suva batsmen. When he dismissed Omid Saberi with a beautiful delivery that clipped the top of off stump the Suva boys were 14 for 3 and in some trouble.

And it just got worse for the team with the quick loss of Eric Browne, closely followed by Joe Rika who was bowled by Kesoni Qoriniasi, leaving Suva in perilous trouble at 26 for 5. Iniasi Cakacaka strode to the middle and showed his experience to form a partnership with Colin Rika that saved the day for Suva and secured their win. The pair took the score to 70 without further loss and Suva recorded their win. Cakacaka was 27 not out while Rika remained 15 not out.

At Albert Park Moce (1) beat Fiji West by 36 runs in another low-scoring match. Moce batted first scoring 103 thanks to a pair of 22’s from Makutu Seru and Maika Kamikamica at the top of the order. Tunou Salusalu was the main destroyer for Fiji West, claiming 4 for 32, while Rajeev Patel turned in a handy 3 for 12. Speedster Viliami Mana, bowling off a shortened run in damp conditions, claimed 2 for 29.

In response to the modest total the Fiji West bats never got going. Only Sakove Ravoka (12) and Saimoni Matasarasara (10) reached double figures in the team’s total of 67. The wickets were shared among five bowlers, with Tagilala Rakuita claiming 3 for 12, while Maika Kamikamica backed up his batting performance with 2 for 15. Sau Cakcaka also claimed two wickets.

At the Queen Elizabeth Army Barracks Cricket Ground, Suva (1) defeated Tubou by six wickets..

Tubou batted first and compiled a modest 73 runs in their innings. Uate Uluiqalau was top-scorer for the team with 17 and was best supported by the experienced Joe Sorovakatini and JoneWesele with 12 and 13 respectively. Joeli Mateyawa claimed 5 for 24 to cause havoc among the Tubou batsmen, while Sam Draunivudi chipped in with 3 for 12.

In response, Suva 1 comfortably scored the 74 needed for victory for the loss of only four wickets. Waisake Tukaha top-scored with 16, while Jo Baba and Taione Cakacaka scored 13 each. Jone Wesele was the best of the Tubou bowlers with figures of 3 for 22.

Tony Munro

Fiji's annual Easter tournament to be held on April 9,10,11 and 13 is likely to feature six teams, with the possibility that one of those will be from Melbourne.

Five teams have so far confirmed for the event - Suva 1, Suva 2, Western, Moce and Tubou while either Victorian Fiji CC or a team from Rakiraki, on the northern coast of Fiji's main island, Vitu Levu, would be the sixth.

A Rakiraki team in the national tournament would complement the work of Cricket Fiji, which has been active in the region, which lies between Suva and Nadi. Past players have been trying to renew cricket activity.

Cricket Fiji's general manager, Martin Shaw, told Cricinfo that Fijian cricket's perennial problem - competition for grounds from rugby union - would determine whether tournament matches were 30 or 50 overs per side.

"If we have six teams and three grounds then it will be 50-over matches all the way, but if we only have two grounds it will have to be 30 over matches until the final," said Shaw.

There also been progress in the western area, barren ground for cricket in recent years, where there is a fledgling three-team competition featuring Moce, United and Punjas. And building on from the recent appointment of a high performance manager, Stephen Jenkin, Shaw said it was hoped development officers would be added in Lakeba and Moce.

Jenkin will get to see the Fijian national team in action when it travels to Vanuatu from April 24-May 1 to play the home team in three 50-over matches. The series is the playing performance component of Vanuatu's application for Associate Membership.

Fiji's annual cricket clinics have begun in Albert Park.

The clinics aim to give children an enjoyable and fun experience and will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until December 19. The fun starts at 9am, with the clinics open to boys and girls of all ages. Attendance is free.

With the support of Pizza Hut, all children who attend the clinics will receive a free Pizza hut lunch to add to the enjoyment.

Australian Test cricket star, Chris Rogers, will be in Fiji today and tomorrow to help the next generation of Fijian cricketers achieve their aims.

Martin Shaw, Cricket Fiji's general manager, is aiming to lift the image of the sport in the country. Fiji finished last in the ICC World Cricket League Division 4, which was won by Afghanistan. Their players have often faced charges of indiscipline; the ICC is currently conducting an investigation into an incident where a player was found in a pool of blood during the recent tournament.

With the ICC having increased the funding for Fiji, Shaw is targeting the grassroots. "There is a lot of work to be done over the next few years to lift cricket in Fiji and to where we would like it to be," Shaw told the Fiji Times. "We need to be more active in the schools with our development officers to ensure that junior players have an opportunity to learn to play cricket.

"We also need to educate teachers who then should be able to run cricket programs in their schools. We need to increase the pool of qualified coaches and umpires so that our club competitions are strengthened.

"With regard to elite cricket, we have to put in place a proper development program that identifies players from a young age and assists them in developing their skills from a junior level right through to senior international cricket.

"We are fortunate that starting from 2009 we will receive increased funding from the ICC," he said. "However, we will still need to raise our own income through sponsorship in order to achieve what we would like to achieve."

Fiji’s cricket team met President Ratu Josefa Iloilo as the side prepared to travel to Tanzania for the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 4.

Jone Salele, the Fiji Team Manager presented a whale’s tooth to the president as part of a reception at Government House. “Let the flags fly when you return and remember cricket is a sport for chiefs so keep that reputation,” said Ratu Iloilo, himself a former cricketer, reported the Fiji Daily Post News.

“It would be hard to let our country down knowing support is with us and with strong words from the President, we are hoping for a positive outing” added Salele.

Fiji face Afghanistan on the opening day of the tournament, which begins on October 4.

A seminar for the ICC’s East Asia – Pacific (EAP) Development Program kicked off today in Melbourne. The five-day course is “a key component in the process to achieve sustainable cricket education within the EAP region and includes an ICC Level 1 coaching Cricket Instructors Course,” the statement read.

Nine highly regarded coaches were selected from an extremely strong pool to attend. The participants are:

PNG John Ovia & Rarua Dikana

Vanuatu Richard Tatwin and Aby Joel John
Japan Jummei Hanada & Nigel Dixon
Fiji Seci Sekinini
Indonesia Melvin Ndoen
Tonga Sione Hamala

The ICC EAP have been able to gain access to world-class facilities through Cricket Australia, Cricket Victoria and the Melbourne Cricket Club.

The ICC EAP Strategic Plan has a strong focus on developing quality cricket coaches in the EAP region, and the Advanced Coaching & Development Seminar is a major part of building sustainable coach development practises.

Cricket Fiji will be headed by a football chief executive from next month. Martin Shaw, the former Football Federation Tasmania chief executive, has been recruited after three and a half years in his current role.

Cricket’s profile in Fiji is rising steadily but the game’s administrators are now hoping for a bigger increase with Shaw on board. He will help to develop the game from grass-roots level.
“It should be a challenge,” he told Fijilive. “I think a lot more of my time will be spent at grass roots level in a more relaxed culture.”

Next week's ICC annual get-together promises to have more than its fair share of politicking, posturing and controversy. But, unless there is a major about-turn, it should also be a watershed for the Associates and Affiliates.

In 2009, income from the ICC's six-year media deal with ESPN-Star, worth over US$1 billion, kicks in, and while the game's big boys will still keep the lion's share, the rest will see substantial increases in their incomes.

Although the ICC draws considerable flak on many fronts, it is quietly committed to promoting the game in as many countries as possible, and it does that by means of a myriad of competitions and initiatives. Most do not warrant much media attention, but they are there and they work.

Until now, the gripe of the smaller countries, and especially those bubbling just underneath the top flight, has been about the inequality of the way in which the game is financed. That was never more apparent than when it came to earnings from last year's World Cup.

Ireland got a flat fee of US$125,000 a year for four years for taking part, and on top of that they received another $50,000 for reaching the Super Eights. However, because of the extra costs involved in their progression, not least because their players are not professional cricketers and their absences from their full-time jobs had to be underwritten, Ireland's success actually left the board out of pocket.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, turned up, tied with Ireland and never threatened to progress after being thumped by Pakistan and West Indies. For those three matches, Zimbabwe Cricket received US$11 million, their share of the pot as a Full Member.

The top six Associates receive no more than US$500,000 a year - some substantially less - to fund their entire operations. Out of that they have to pay all their cricketing and administration costs. Only those with a low cost of living, such as Kenya, can hope to maintain a professional squad on that kind of money.

The gulf between the haves and have-nots is further widened by the limited sums Associates can earn from sponsorship and media contracts. Zimbabwe can exploit home series against, say, India to carve out lucrative TV deals worth millions, and on the back of that, attract shirt- and other corporate sponsorship. As highlighted by Scotland's failure to secure any TV deal for their forthcoming ODI against England, the Associates struggle to get such income streams.

The new deals will provide a substantial increase for Associates, especially for the countries who are pressing for space at the top table. Until now the share has been roughly equal, rewarding Netherlands and Kenya on par with Thailand and Fiji. The new system will see more demarcation between the top Associates and the rest.

The leading ten could earn as much as US$1.5 million a year from 2009. There will then be an onus on them to professionalise their administrations, but several of them are already well down that route. They will also be more accountable - the ICC does not want a repeat of the mess that came following a spike in Kenya's funding earlier in the decade.

The second-string Associates will also get more - around US$160,000 as a base figure - but then again the demands on them are less. Even Affiliates will receive US$15,000, with the opportunity for more should they make a good enough case. There will also be more cash in the pot for participating and hosting competitions.

There have never been more opportunities for development outside the Full Member countries, but there remain some nagging worries.

The main one is how to bridge the gap between semi and full-blown professionalism. Almost all the Associates rely on dedicated amateurs, both on and off the field. As the number of ICC competitions has increased - and they have to be welcomed - the pressure has begun to tell. Scotland and Ireland particularly have already found players cannot meet all their commitments, and even the increased income will not allow them to employ a full-time squad.

"So much of putting players on full-time retainers depends on how many fixtures we can command," Warren Deutrom, Cricket Ireland's chief executive, said. "At the moment, all we can promise the squad in 2009 is a World Cup qualifying campaign, eight FP Trophy matches, an England game, and probably some Intercontinental Cup matches. Of course, we hope to have more, but can't be sure at the moment.

"Our top players are already plying their trade in county cricket, while others have full-time jobs which they may not wish to give up. The actual number of players that the coach will want to put on a full-time contract, or else the number that even want to have one, may not be that many."

The other quandary is how to get them fixtures. Kenya, widely regarded as the leading Associate, have found it almost impossible to get Full Member countries to visit or host them. As a result they invariably play other Associates. Good for the win-loss ratio, not so clever in providing the kind of experience that no amount of money can buy.

These issues will need to be addressed, but for now the future has never looked so promising beyond the Test world.

Colin Siller, a former Scotland league cricketer, has been named as Fiji's new coach.

He said: "It is a great honour to have been handed a head coach's role. Fiji were a founding member of the ICC and it will be my role to improve the cricket structure there from the senior team downwards. I am really looking forward to working with the young talent as well as getting to know the people."

Siller, who has played for Leith Franklin, Holy Cross, Corstorphine and Gala over the years as well as Watsonians, has previously worked as an age-grade coach with Ireland and was an assistant coach with Canada during the 2005 ICC Trophy. He was then headhunted by Zimbabwe Cricket in 2006 to become coach education manager and assistant coach for the national side.

The Scotsman has more. His first matches in charge will be against Vanuatu at home in mid-May when they will contest a three-match one-day series.

Tony Munro

The Suva Crusaders, has won Fiji's annual interdistrict competition, the Dwarka Prasad trophy, by 43 runs.

The team from Fiji's capital batted first in final of the 50-over tournament held over Easter amassing 129 before dismissing Moce, one of Fiji's eastern islands, for 86. Six teams, Crusaders, Moce, Suva Islanders, Tubou, Ono I Lau and Lautoka played. Competition for grounds and playing areas from rugby union, a perennial problem, limited the number of competing teams.

Meanwhile, Tubou from the island of Lakeba, is set to have its 40-year-hold on the Dewar's Shield contested, when Moce travels to Tubou this October.

Part of the reason for the length of Tubou's title reign, is that a prospective challenger, if unable to afford to fly by plane, faces a two day boat trip. Nadi was the last challenger in 2003.

Six Fijian district teams will contest the Diwarka Prasad Trophy, the premier domestic event in Fijian cricket, this weekend.

Played using a place-of-origin format, the best available players represent the district in which they were born, regardless of where they now live. The tournament is Fiji's only inter-district tournament.

Suva (1), Suva (2), Combined Lautoka/Nadi, Moce, Tubou and Natokolau will each play three 50-over games with the top two teams meeting in the final on Easter Monday.

The Shield is part of the selection of the Fijian national squad to contest the World Cricket League Division Four tournament in Tanzania in the latter part of 2008.

The number of people actively participating in cricket outside the Test-playing countries increased 17% in 2007, according to the ICC.

The research, carried out by the ICC's development program, was collated from 33 Associate and 58 Affiliate members. It showed that there were 338,051 male and female players in those countries in 2007, an increase of 49,158 on the previous year. Since 2002, when there were 144,047 participants, there has been a 135% rise.

Click here for the full story.

The ICC East Asia–Pacific (EAP) Development Program has announced its squads for the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane in November.

Twelve young players have been selected for the EAP Emerging Players Program, and 16 for the squad camp which will bring together the region’s best players ahead of the Australian country cricket championship in Mackay, Queensland this January. This means players from Cook Islands, Fiji, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Both squads will experience a week of intensive coaching, training and skill development under the tutelage of Australia’s leading coaches. Each squad will play Twenty20 and 50-over one-day matches against local opposition in Brisbane.

Emerging players squad

Colin Amini (PNG), Arua Dikana (PNG), Willie Gavera (PNG), Masaomi Kobayashi (Japan), Trevor Langa (Vanuatu), Jacob Mado (PNG), Simpson Obed (Vanuatu), Pritchard Pritchard (Samoa), Sekove Ravoka (Fiji), Salesi Tu’Akoi (Tonga), Tony Ura (PNG), Vani Vagi Morea (PNG)

Squad camp

Chris Amini (PNG), Hitolo Areni (PNG), Kapena Arua (PNG), Inoa Baeau (PNG), Jamie Brazier (PNG), Tatsuro Chino (Japan), Mahuru Dai (PNG), Rarua Dikana (PNG), Dunu Eliaba (Cook Islands), Mahuta Kivung (PNG), Andrew Mansale (Vanuatu), Ipi Morea (PNG), Loa Nou (PNG), John Ovia (PNG), Josefa Rika (Fiji), Assad Vala (PNG)

Fiji's good form in the Pacific Games continued today when the humbled, or embarrassed, New Caledonia by a whopping 383 runs. Batting first Fiji made 403 for 8 before dismissing New Caledonia for a paltry 20.

They face Tonga on Friday and Samoa on Saturday.

If you have any further information or photos about this match, or any in the Pacific Games, do get in touch

SportingPulse have a full report:

In making its way to its impressive 403 run batting stint, New Caledonia showed very early signs of unsettling Fiji by dismissing opening bat Iliesa Navatu McGoon for 2 runs in the third over and Sekuove Ravoka for 7 runs in the 7th over. However, the entry of Kida Jikoivanualevu into the action saw Fiji gain real composure and the Fiji run scoring machine go into overdrive. Jikoivanualevu and Fiji's captain, Iniasi Cakacaka, settled in at the crease and put on a 71 run partnership before Cakcaka was bowled by S. Kilama for 29 runs. Kida was eventually caught by Midraia off a bowl from Folituu for a well played 67 runs. Fiji's batting depth showed through its batting order with number 7 batsman Tupou Golati making an impressive 71 runs and top scoring for Fiji and Kitione Tavo at number 8 making 42 runs not out with two sixes to his name. Fiji eventually scored 336 runs off the bat with New Caledonia conceding 35 wides and 19 no balls.

New Caledonia, with what can only be described as a mountain to overcome, took to the pitch with the hope of making a close game of the huge run chase. However, the impressive Fijian bowling attack was always going to make the task ahead for the New Caledonian team a real challenge. New Caledonia, in the course of 16 overs, put 20 runs on the board before they were all dismissed by the highly charged Fijian team.

Thanks to Andrew Dunford for the SportingPulse reminder

Fiji have been forced to move their training from Albert Park as they gear up for this year's South Pacific games.

“This would be good because the weather is hot and of course the venue for training is the main thing.”

The 14-member team consists of five players that went down in the final to Papua New Guinea in the 2003 South Pacific Games. Fiji has been denied three times the gold medal, always settling for silver but this year, Vosaicake said gold was their main agenda.

“We are tired of settling for second best. This team has prepared well and the recent international meets has helped in our buildup for Samoa.”

Only two players, Sakaraia Lomani and Filimoni Vuli will be making their debut. The side has experience from the EAP Championship, Vanuatu Bilateral and World Cup qualifiers.

Their toughest challenge is coping with 50 overs instead of 30 overs, normally played in the local club games.

“It is a challenge for us. Most of our players have experience in 50 overs and we have been training to accommodate that but it is not tough, it can be done.”

[via Fijilive]

The matches begin next Monday on August 27. A full schedule can be found at SportingPulse.

Argentina and Papua New Guinea (PNG) complete the semi-final line-up of the World Cricket League Division 3 after recording impressive victories on the last day of the group matches in Darwin. Argentina take on Cayman Islands in the semi-finals tomorrow, while PNG meet Uganda.

Group A

Argentina routed Fiji for 44 inside 22 overs before knocking off the target in 30 balls. Esteban Nino, bowling with impressive pace, took 4 for 16 while Gary Savage and Diego Lord shared the remaining six. At one stage, Fiji were 9 for 7; that they reached the lofty heights of 44 owed much to Vuiyasawa Mateiwaqa's 16 and 15 extras. Lucas Paterlini and Grant Dugmore knocked off the required runs in the fifth over.

PNG beat Italy by eight wickets, but it was their superior net run-rate which edged them into the semi-finals, after both teams were tied following two wins each. PNG, who suffered a shock five-wicket defeat against Argentina on Tuesday, had to beat the Italians by a convincing margin to earn a berth in the last four. They did just that, dismissing Italy for 134 before cruising to their target in the 34th over. Arua Uda top-scored with 58 from 92 balls.

Group B

Poor shot selection from the Cayman Islands condemned them to a 26-run defeat to Uganda. Both teams had already qualified for the semis on Tuesday but Uganda put in an excellent allround performance, dismissing Cayman Islands for 127 in the 47th over with Charles Waiswa picking up 2 for 21. Uganda's 153 was led by Arthur Kyobe, the 18-year-old, who struck 37 from 64 balls.

Tanzania tasted its first win of the tournament, overpowering Hong Kong by five wickets. Hong Kong made 161, with Rahul Sharma notching 43 while Bhavesh Govind took 3 for 31. Tanzania cruised home with Abhik Patwa and Rishen Patel putting on 77 for the opening stand, edging over the line in the 47th over.

Eight of cricket’s emerging nations will be hoping to take one step towards qualification for the 2011 World Cup when the World Cricket League Division 3 gets underway this Sunday (May 27) in Darwin.

The top two teams from this event will join UAE, Namibia, Denmark and Oman
in Windhoek, Namibia at the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 November. The top four teams from the event in Namibia will automatically qualify for the ICC World Cup Qualifier in the UAE in 2009, while the two remaining teams will have a second chance to qualify for the UAE tournament at the World Cricket League Division 3 in early 2009.

Click here for the full team-by-team preview.

The Fiji Times reports that the national side have been preparing for their World Cricket League Division Three matches in Australia with games against the army over the last three weeks.

In Fiji, one-day matches in the island’s league are played over 30 overs. This is due to the lack of suitable playing surfaces.

"We have been strengthening our batting during the training sessions," Seci Sekinini, the team manager, said. "It’s a different game. We will have to bat longer. Our players are prone to rush things. Sometimes the teams don't even last the full duration of the club games. And that's 30 overs. So we have a lot to work on.

“The bowlers are also working on their techniques. They are bowling more dot balls at practice. I don't believe our fielding will be a problem. All the players will need to put in their best effort."

Four players who missed the Vanuatu-Fiji series in March have been picked for Fiji's squad in their World Cricket League Division Three campaign to be held in Darwin, Australia, later this month.

The four players - Iliesa Waqaituinayau, Filimoni Vuli, Sakaraia Lomani and Rajeev Patel - are part of a squad, captained by Seci Tuiwai, who will play two warm-ups against an Indigenous XI and the Northern Territory State XI.

The World Cricket League is split into five divisions and is the ICC's method to determine countries' eligibilty to the qualifiers for 2011's World Cup. The other teams in Fiji's division are Hong Kong, Uganda, Tanzania, Cayman Islands, Argentina, Italy and Papua New Guinea.

Fiji's squad
Seci Tuiwai (capt), Iniasi Cakacaka (vice-capt), Josefa Rika, Colin Rika, Iliesa Navatu, Taione Batina, Sekove Ravoka, Inoke Lesuma, Dr Rajeev Patel, Samu Draunivudi, Sakaraia Lomani, Vueta Vuiyasawa, Iliesa Waqatuinayau, Filimoni Vuli

Lautoka beat Suva at Albert Park in Fiji yesterday, taking the gold medal in the Fiji Games competition. The Fiji Times Online has a full report:

Led by Herbert Christopher, who was named player of the tournament, the side won by eight wickets. Suva batted first and was all out for 57 runs. In reply, Lautoka managed 58 runs.

Christopher, who captained the Fiji Under-15 side in 2005, was well assisted by former Indian national Gaurang Patel.

The ICC East Asia - Pacific (EAP) office have confirmed the dates for the 2007 ICC EAP U-19 World Cup Qualifier hosted by Vanuatu Cricket Association in Port Vila. The tournament will take place from July 17 to 24, 2007.

Confirmed countries participating in this tournament are Fiji, Japan, Papua New Guinea and tournament hosts Vanuatu, with the winner earning direct entry to the 2008 Under-19 World Cup.

ICC EAP Regional Development Manager, Mr Matt Weisheit reported "We are delighted that Vanuatu will be hosting this significant ICC East Asia - Pacific U-19 tournament in July 2007. For Vanuatu, this follows the successful staging of the 2005 EAP Cricket Cup tournament and we see this tournament as building on the progress Vanuatu is making in terms of cricket development both on and off the field.

"With the winner of this EAP tournament progressing directly to the U19 Cricket World Cup means that this will be a hotly contested tournament. The lure of participating in a World Cup will provide significant motivation for the Countries involved and as such this is one of the major tournaments on the 2007 EAP Cricket Calendar".

Vanuatu Cricket Association (VCA) President, Mr Mark Stafford, said that the tournament will provide a valuable boost for the growth of the sport in Vanuatu. "We have focussed on developing our junior cricket programs and structures, and hosting the ICC EAP U-19's World Cup qualifier complements our ambitions to cultivate a strong junior base. This will provide us an opportunity to improve our ability to compete internationally and also promote the sport locally.

"It is imperative that we secure government and corporate support for this tournament, as there are a number of areas that Vanuatu cricket needs to improve in. Besides, the importance of a strong on-field performance, it is also necessary for us to improve our facilities and enhance our reputation as a well organised cricket organisation, to achieve this we need community involvement and support."

It won't get many column inches in the mainstream cricket press, but the World Cricket League, which started in Nairobi yesterday and continues into next week, features the best of the rest, the six sides just under the ten Test-playing countries. For the two finalists, the rewards are bountiful - a place among the big boys in the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa this September, along with $250,000. For countries used to surviving on annual handouts from the ICC of less than $200,000, that's big money.

With the exception of Bermuda, cricket is not a mainstream sport in any of the participants. And yet it survives, and in some instances thrives, despite the lack of attention and a relatively small number of enthusiasts.

The ICC, who do sterling work in supporting the game's second and third tiers, will rightly use the event to highlight that cricket is not just about the Indians and Australias of the world.

But there remains a nagging worry. The ICC boasts that the game is spreading across the world. But is that right? Is it taking root or is it surviving because more people from its hotbed - south-east Asia - are emigrating and keeping it alive for the duration of their careers?

In last year's Wisden Almanack, Matthew Engel raised this very issue. "Overwhelmingly, the game in non-traditional countries is played by expatriates, mostly South Asian. Journalists were kidded into believing that cricket was about to burst on China, on the basis of some warm comments by civil servants and a couple of coaching courses. I have seen not one shred of evidence to back this up. Are the kids playing with tapeballs on the streets of Shanghai? Are they heck!"

Take Canada. Of the squad in Nairobi at the moment, only three were born in the country, and two of those are over 35. Of the rest, five come from the Caribbean, four from India and each from Pakistan and Uganda. Whereas other Associates have a smattering of expats, Canada are utterly reliant on them.

Engel's comment attracted fierce criticism from those who either argued that England had more than their share of "imports" or that the game only spread in Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Caribbean through expats playing it in the first place.

The worry in some countries is that rather the game is not being continued by the second and third generations but is only being maintained by a steady flow of new immigrants

With regards to England, yes there have been quite a few non English-born players who have been picked for the side, but the game still has a massive stronghold in the country. The selection has been more about improving a solid side. And as for the ex-pats argument? Well, yes, but that's the crucial point. In the regions flagged the game was brought in but it was then embraced by the indigenous population and taken on as their own. This is exemplified no better than in CLR James's seminal work, Beyond A Boundary.

The worry in some countries - and again I come back to Canada - is that rather the game is not being continued by the second and third generations but is only being maintained by a steady flow of new immigrants. Canada's cricket heritage is rich but there is little sign that it has been built on. This is best underlined by the selection of former West Indies international Anderson Cummins. Forty years old and without a major match to his name since 1995-96, he made his debut in Mombasa last week. What message does that send out about the strength in depth of cricket in Canada?

It's not just Canada. Look at the USA, whose 2004 Champions Trophy side was a collection of ageing expats whose performances verged on the disgraceful. And the UAE, which is almost entirely dependant on its ex-pat workforce to keep the game alive.

Cricket's expansion should not be about filling teams with expats and expecting the locals to get excited about it. The only way cricket can gain a foothold in emerging countries is by actually getting the indigenous population to embrace the game, and two excellent examples where this is happening are Nepal and Uganda.

Anderson Cummins of Barbados, West Inbies ... and now Canada © Eddie Norfolk

Does it matter? Yes, because as the ICC looks to develop the game in as many places as possible, that means the financial cake has to be cut in ever thinner slices. The ICC needs to concentrate on a smaller number of countries where the chances of the game taking off. It is invidious that Uganda gets the same basic allowance as Belgium.

Cricket is in trouble in its traditional homes in Africa - Zimbabwe are hell-bent on destruction and South Africa seems to be falling out of love with the game. So efforts should be made in Uganda . And in Asia, which everyone accepts is the game's stronghold, a side like Nepal should really be given the leg up. It's about targeting rather than a scattergun approach.

In fairness to the ICC, they have a tough time and a lot of countries scrambling for a share of the spoils. It's about weeding out the weak and really looking to grow the game in areas where it has the best chance of taking root. It's an almost impossible ask. Look at the repeated failure of American Football to crack Europe ... and if football itself still battles for acceptance outside expats and schools in the USA, then the size of the ICC's task becomes clear.

Of course expats have a key role to play in expansion. But if the game is basically played by them, is it the game spreading or is it more about diehards clinging to the traditions of their homelands? In the UK there are baseball and American football sides, but they are almost all expat Americans and so few would seriously claim the games have taken hold. However, basketball and ice hockey are widely played by locals, boosted by some imported players and expats, and, crucially, the national side can stand on its own two feet. That's the difference.

The Fiji Times has a disturbing report on the poor state of Albert Park in Suva, the capital of the country. Safety aspects have been "compromised," and the outfield is littered - literally - with rubbish, pot holes and overgrown grass.

The article also has news of the latest match in the Suva Cricket Association league, where Army Cricket Club beat Willow Whisperers. And finally, there's this:

A highlight of the round was seeing clubs showing initiative to turn up with coloured tops and white longs. While on uniforms one thing that should be mentioned here is that some clubs are still flouting tradition and disrespectful to the sport by not playing in their white longs or even the same coloured longs.

Some ill-mannered players put a slap in the face to this respectable game by rocking up and playing Cricket in different coloured shorts. I feel that W.G. Grace is really turning in his grave and for that matter ironically these players have shown shortcomings in their performances this first round.

Do you play in Fiji or Albert Park? Let us know your thoughts on the state of the ground in the comments below or email us if you have any photos to share.

Fancy a job in paradise? Fiji have just announced that they are looking for a a new coach and manager "to salvage the national team's downward spiral".

Good news from Fiji where the authorities are reviving their free school holiday cricket program beginning next Monday (Dec 5) at Albert Park, Suva. More from the Fiji Times.