A new champion will be crowned in the Rarotonga T20 Cookie Sadaraka Cup men’s final, while Muri Creeps will be aiming for a third consecutive title in the women’s division today.

Nikao Black Wolves will face Arorangi, while the defending champions Muri Creeps will battle Turangi Young Guns in the men’s and women’s finals, respectively, at Nikao Field.

The Black Wolves and the Young Guns topped the preliminary competition and earned direct qualification to the finals.

Arorangi battled Turangi, the second seed in the men’s division, while Muri Creeps faced Arorangi, the second seed in the women’s division, in the semi-finals last Saturday.

Arorangi batted first against Turangi and scored 232 runs for four wickets in 20 overs. Opener Dan Simpson had a brilliant innings of 120 runs not out. Simpson hit a massive 14 sixes and seven fours to help Arorangi set a competitive score. He also formed a good partnership with middle-order batsman Tuakana Tuakana, who scored 46 runs before losing his wicket.

In reply, Turangi managed 193 runs for five wickets in 20 overs. The team’s top-order batsmen Ben Vakatini, Vane Tangimetua Sr, and Richard Piakura scored 61, 41, and 42 runs, respectively, but their middle-order batsmen were unable to maintain the pace set by them and were dismissed for low scores.

Arorangi won the match by 39 runs.

The final will see Arorangi battling the top-seeded Nikao Black Wolves for the Cookie Sadaraka Cup.

This is Arorangi’s third straight final, and the side will be looking to regain the title they surrendered to K11 last year.

The Black Wolves return to the final after avenging their 2021 final loss to Turangi with an opening round win against their foe, sending them through to the final.

In the women’s semi-final, Arorangi batted first and only managed 64 runs all out in 18.2 overs. For Muri Creeps, Elizabeth Kaiou bowled well, picking up three wickets.

In reply, Muri Creeps’ openers Phillica Maruariki and Tina Mato scored 21 runs each to set the platform in their run chase. Muri managed to reach the target in 12 overs with the loss of seven wickets to record a three-wicket win.

In today’s showdown, Turangi Young Guns will be hoping to win the title and break Muri Creeps’ dominance in the women’s division.

Meanwhile, the Turangi Young Guns finished the season in third overall, and K11 Orcas secured the fourth position in the men’s competition.

The Tupapa Young Guns defeated Takuvaine Bats to finish in fifth place in their inaugural season, followed by the Bats in sixth, Nikao Black Wolves in seventh, Muri Creeps in eighth, and Tupapa Panthers in ninth spot.

In the women’s division, Tupapa Panther defeated the K11 Orcas to secure fifth place in the competition and Nikao Honey Wolves finished in seventh spot.

The women’s final will start at 12.30pm, followed by the men’s at 3.30pm.