ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional East Asia-Pacific Qualifier A 2024 Points Table: Updated standings after Samoa vs Fiji, Match 2

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional East Asia-Pacific Qualifier A 2024 began on Saturday, August 17. The opening match saw Vanuatu lock horns with the Cook Islands. Samoa, meanwhile, faced Fiji in the second match. Both games were held at the Faleata Oval No 2 in Apia.

In a high-scoring affair, the Cook Islands emerged victorious over Vanuatu. The second game was a low-scoring affair, with Samoa defeating Fiji comprehensively to start their campaign on a winning note.

With the big win, Samoa have jumped to the top of the table. They have two points to their name and have a net run rate (NRR) of +9.904. Cook Islands also grabbed two points and sit below Samoa with a net run rate of +1.239.

Vanuatu lost to Cook Islands in their opening game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional East Asia-Pacific and are placed third in the points table. They have a net run rate of -1.239.

Fiji are placed at the bottom of the points table. They suffered a heavy defeat in their opening game against Samoa and have a net run rate of -9.094.

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Samoa and Cook Islands start their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional East Asia-Pacific Qualifier A 2024 campaign on a winning note

In the tournament's opening game, Vanuatu were asked to bat first. Andrew Mansale scored 64 at No. 3. Cameos from Tim Cutler (34*) and Kenny Tari (21*) helped them post 180 in 20 overs.

Cook Islands’ bowlers went on a journey but picked up five wickets, with Oscar Taylor and Milton Kavana grabbing two apiece.

In reply, Hayden Dickson displayed a masterclass while opening the batting. He hit 10 fours and seven maximums to score a century. He remained unbeaten on 112 off 57 balls to help the Cook Islands chase down the total in the penultimate over.

Vanuatu’s bowlers weren’t up to the mark and had no answers to the onslaught from Dickson as the Cook Islands got off to a winning start to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional East Asia-Pacific Qualifier A 2024.

In the second match, Fiji opted to bat first against Samoa. Their batters faltered as none of them got going. Only Dawson Tawake (11) and Apete Sokovagone (19) managed to reach double digits as Fiji got bundled out on a paltry total of 62 in 14 overs.

Each of the five Samoan bowlers entered the wickets column. Darius Visser and Solomon Nash picked up four and three scalps, respectively.

Samoa lost Solomon Nash (3) early in the innings but Sean Cotter (24*) and Darius Visser (30*) made sure that they got across the line in just 5.1 overs with nine wickets in hand.