Hosts Vanuatu have taken the early lead in a four team sub-regional qualifying event that forms part of the East Asia Pacific region’s qualification for the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup.

Cook Islands, Fiji and Samoa make up the rest of the participants and the winners of the double round robin event will reach the EAP final next year where they will play Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and the winners of next month’s EAP B sub-regional in Japan. The winners of that final qualify for the World Cup.

The home team, playing on the hybrid wicket at Port Vila, kicked off the tournament against Fiji yesterday. They batted first and scored 173-5, Andrew Mansale top scoring with an unbeaten 57 from 37 balls. Nalin Nipiko also scored a half-century, smashing 51 from only 24 balls. Fiji were restricted to 117-9 in reply, losing by 56 runs. Patrick Matautaava, returning to the Vanuatu team after visa issues prevented him from playing in Canada for the Challenge League, was the pick of the bowlers with 3-13.

The second match of the day saw the Cook Islands play their first match in almost eight years when they took on Samoa. The Cook Islands also had the distinction of being the first country with Charles III as head of state to play an international cricket match.

The Cook Islands batted first and were kept to 110-8 with Samson Sola taking 3-21. Samoa knocked off the required runs in 11.2 overs to win by 7 wickets. Fereti Suluoto top scored with an unbeaten 44 from 19 balls.

The Cook Islands improved in the first match of today’s play, batting first against Fiji and scoring 142 with Hayden Dickson’s 51 their top score and first T20I fifty. The Fijian reply started oddly with an opening partnership of 13 with only one run coming from the bat. Both openers were dismissed cheaply before Peni Vuniwaqa’s unbeaten 72 from just 39 balls secured a three wicket win with three overs to spare.

Samoa batted first in today’s final match and scored 122-9 with Dominic Michael’s 54 their top score. Nalin Nipiko’s unbeaten 62 helped the hosts secure a nine wicket win with 4.3 overs to spare, making them the only team with a 100% record.

Vanuatu will look to continue that winning run when they take on the Cook Islands tomorrow, whilst Fiji will play Samoa later in the day.