Heading into this tournament the Cook Islands hadn’t won an international cricket match since March 2013 and hadn’t beaten Vanuatu since September 2005. All that changed today when they completed a surprise win over the hosts in East Asia Pacific sub-regional qualifying for the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup.

Vanuatu batted first and were bowled out for 127. Their only score of note was Andrew Mansale’s 53 from 47 balls, whilst William Kokaua was the pick of the bowlers with 3-26.

The visitors lost opener Hayden Dickson to a golden duck in their first over but followed this with an 86 run partnership for the second wicket between Ma’ara Ava and Aue Parima before the latter was out for 34, scored from 18 balls.

Captain Ave batted on and scored 50 before he was out in the 15th over with the score on 121. There was one more wicket but the visitors were otherwise untroubled as they completed the remaining seven runs needed for victory, winning by five wickets.

In the second match of the day, Samoa batted first against Fiji and scored 142-6, Dominic Michael leading the way with an unbeaten 63 from 44 balls. He was outdone by Fiji’s Peni Vuniwaqa, who scored 68 from 46 balls as Fiji completed a a three wicket win with two balls to spare.

Today’s results mean that Fiji and Vanuatu are level with two wins each heading into tomorrow’s rest day. When play resumes on Tuesday, those two teams will be playing each other, whilst Cook Islands take on Samoa.