| Sports |
EAP bounce back with victory over
Western Australia
THE East Asia Pacific (EAP) team yesterday bounced back from their
disappointing round one result to record a hard fought win against
Western Australia (WA) in round two of the Australian Country Cricket
Championships (ACCC) being contested in Mildura, Victoria.
EAP captain Rarua Dikana won his second consecutive toss and elected to
bat on a hard but slightly grassy wicket at Henshilwood Oval in Irymple.
Having been dismissed twice by NSW the previous day, the EAP batsmen
were looking to work into some form and openers Arua Uda and
Tikovanualevu Kida set about doing just that.
The pair fought their way through the new ball and reached 84 (an EAP
record) before Uda lost his wicket for 58 trying to loft over mid-on.
Kida followed shortly after for 21 and EAP went to lunch at 2-87.
Senior players John Ovia and Jamie Brazier returned to the crease after
the break, however, it wasn’t long before WA had EAP on the ropes.
Brazier’s dismissal for 3 was followed by Assad Vala (0) and Mahuru Dai
(1), and EAP had lost 5-15 in the period around lunch.
Talented 19-year-old Andrew Mansale joined Ovia at the crease and the
pair set about recovering the innings through an impressive display of
disciplined batting.
At tea, EAP had reached 5-165 with Ovia’s stroke-play combining well
with Mansale’s tight technique and aggressive running between wickets.
The pair continued after tea before Ovia was caught at backward point
off a thick outside edge for a well compiled 63.
Wicketkeeper Ipi Morea (2) and Dikana (3) both failed to trouble the
scorers and EAP were again on the back foot. Debutant Patrick
Giles-Jones joined Mansale, and with the WA bowlers tiring in the
Mildura heat, the pair began to find the boundary regularly as EAP
pushed for late runs.
Mansale was eventually dismissed for an impressive 71. The all-rounder
posting his highest score for EAP in his third ACCC match.
Giles-Jones (28 not out) and Kitione Tavo (20 not out) pushed the score
to 9-278 at the completion of the 100 overs with an unbeaten 25-run
partnership.
With a healthy score on the board the EAP bowlers attacked the WA top
order early on Day 2 but met sturdy resistance and went to lunch with
the game evenly poised at 2-93.
Hitolo Areni (2-61 off 21 overs) claimed the first wicket and then
pulled off a spectacular run-out with a direct hit from fine leg.
The introduction of off-spinner Jamie Brazier (3-49 off 34) saw the runs
dry up for WA.
With support from Areni and fellow pace bowlers Tavo (1-54 off 16) and
Dikana (0-26 off 16), Brazier built pressure on the WA middle order with
the result being regular wickets throughout the middle session.
At tea EAP had moved into a winning position with WA on 6-171 requiring
108 runs for victory off 32 overs.
This position strengthened shortly after the break as EAP raced through
15 overs claiming 2-37.
With the required run rate increasing, WA went on the attack, however,
the EAP bowlers held their nerve.
Tavo returned to claim the final wicket and dismiss WA for 226.
Brazier’s 34 consecutive overs and an outstanding fielding display that
netted four run outs, were the highlights for EAP as they recorded their
first victory of the 2007 ACCC.
Commenting on the victory Brazier said: “This was a tough game. We
showed a lot of character to bounce back after round one and worked
really hard to get over the line.
“Our fielding today was excellent.
“However, there is still a lot of room for improvement in other aspects
of our game.
“Hopefully we can push Queensland in round three and get another win on
the board.”
EAP will head to Alcheringa Sports Ground in Gol Gol to take on reigning
champions Queensland in round three of the ACCC.
 
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