From the Shadows into the Light, Vanuatu seek Gold in Moresby
30th of June 2015
Vanuatu a country a quarter of the size of Papua New Guinea will look to force their way out PNG’s shadow in the 2015 Pacific Games. Vanuatu have finished second to Papua New Guinea in the ICC EAP Trophies of 2011, 2013 and 2014 and finished 3rd in the last pacific games in 2011. The Vanuatu Men’s team depart Port Vila for Port Moresby on Thursday the 2nd of July. The Games will feature just four men’s teams in New Caledonia, Tonga, Vanuatu and hosts Papua New Guinea. The Cook Islands, Fiji and Samoa have opted only to send their women’s teams to this event due to financial reasons and so the Silver Medalist from the last games in 2011, Fiji, will not be participating. The men’s competition has no World Cup Qualification on the line, just three medals to play for: Bronze, Silver and Gold.
The men’s competition kicks off on the 14th of July with every nation playing each other twice before the qualifying final and the medal playoffs. Below is the current world rankings of the participating teams according to the International Cricket Council (ICC), Shane Booth and Alistair Gordon ranking systems.
It is shaping up as a show down between the number one and two teams in the East Asia-Pacific (EAP) region, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. This tournament provides Vanuatu a prime opportunity to win a pacific games medal. Vanuatu have only ever medaled in cricket twice, a silver in 1979 and a bronze in 2011. After waiting 32 years between medals Vanuatu do not want to miss another chance. Vanuatu have also never won a medal in Papua New Guinea after losing the playoff match to Tonga in the 1991 Pacific games held in Port Moresby 24 years ago.
Papua New Guinea will enter the tournament as favourites, however the side featured in this year’s pacific games is the Papua New Guinea ‘A’ team. Due to Papua New Guinea’s qualification for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier that will be played at the same time in Ireland and Scotland, PNG have entered a second XI into the competition. However despite this the PNG team is still formidable. Former PNG captain Chris Amini will lead the side that also contains former national players Jason Kila, Ray Haoda Junior and Joel Tom. PNG will be desperate to keep their winning streak alive after winning the cricket competition in all 6 Pacific Games in which cricket has been played and taking home the gold medals.
Vanuatu has not beaten Tonga in a Pacific Games match since 1979 when they defeated the Polynesians in the semifinal to secure them a place in the Gold Medal match. However Vanuatu have beaten Tonga in every match since they won the 3rd place play off in the 2005 ICC EAP Trophy in front of home fans at Kazaa Field. Vanuatu will be to keen continue that dominance and repeat that effort in Port Moresby this year. Tonga have not played an international match since being expelled from the ICC two years ago and their last tournament was back in 2011 in the EAP Division 2 competition. Tonga will want to prove to the rest of the Pacific that they are still a force in the cricket world and not to be taken lightly.
New Caledonia although they are not a member of the ICC have played in every Pacific Games in which cricket has featured. However progress has been long and slow for the New Caledonians and they have not won an international match since winning the 1992 Triangular tournament against Japan and Vanuatu. New Caledonia will sense an opportunity against the out of practice Tongans to record their first victory in 23 years and also put forward their case for inclusion in the ICC EAP region.
The Vanuatu squad will be led by Captain Andrew Mansale and will be at full strength as players look to impress the selectors before Vanuatu play in the ICC World Cricket League Division Six in September. Vanuatu have a point to prove against the top team in the region and with PNG fielding an inexperienced team in these games their opportunity for Gold has never been better.
Nalin Nipiko (123*) and Patrick Matautaava (103) will both be feeling confident after making hundreds in the Independence Cup on the weekend, while young guns Joshua Rasu and Ronald Tari also notched up half centuries.
“I am confident the boys will perform well in the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea. We plan to use the Pacific Games as a platform for success in World Cricket League Division Six in September. We want to win the Gold in the Pacific and carry that momentum on to England to take on the world,” declares Andrew Mansale.
It is clear that Vanuatu cricket is tired of playing in Papua New Guinea’s shadow and will look to step into the limelight at the Games and bring home a Gold as the beginning of greater things.
Written by Llewelyn Scott-Hoy