Women's Cricket

Their 53-run win over an up and coming Vanuatu came on the back of a dominant performance with bat and ball from Feala Pula who was named player of the match.

Pula joined her captain Regina Lili’I (38) for a 54-run fourth wicket partnership as Samoa went on to post 114 from their 20 overs.

20-year-old Leimauri Chilia picked up three wickets for Vanuatu who continue to improve with each match.

Pula was pleased with both her performance and that of the team acknowledging that “we couldn’t take Vanuatu lightly,” she said.

In the opening match of the Qualifier, Samoa won the toss and sent Japan in for the first ICC match on turf in Japan.

Japan got off to a slow but solid start before captain Kurumi Ota was unluckily run out at the non-striker’s end.

From there Japan lost regular wickets throughout their 20 overs which restricted their ability to set a defendable score.

Former captain Shizuka Miyaji was the only batter to stay there for her 27 not out with Japan setting Samoa a target of just 71 for victory.

This includes captain Regina Lili’I and current Samoa Cricket Development Manager and vice-captain, Perelini Mulitalo, will play in her fifth regional women’s qualifier.
 
The team will also feature several new faces including Faamitai Anitoni, Velder Levaula and Filimaua Malo while Letelesa Autagavia returns to the team for the first time since 2012.