Tupapa Young Gunz and Tupapa Panthers have taken the lead in the men’s and women’s competition after two rounds of Cook Islands Cricket Association T20 domestic season with third round to be held today.

Last Saturday was the first weekend for women’s teams and second for the men in the T20 domestic season. Three women’s matches started at 12:30pm followed by four matches from the Men’s division in the afternoon.

At Victoria Park, hosts Tupapa Panthers took on the youthful K11 women and put paid to them 161/8/20 to 94/8/20 – a 67 run victory. Both sides showed flashes from the bowling end, with Ngapuna from Tupapa hurling 4 overs for 3 wickets and only 13 runs. Shamaya led the Tupapa bats with a solid 52 runs not out. 

The ladies were then followed by the newcomers to the competition, the “Tupapa Young Rookies” playing Tupapa. This game showcased both the past and future of the association. Led by Davis Teinaki and Kunta Ritawa, the boys took at a mighty 163 run victory.

Watching his youthful charges struggle with the bat, Teinaki took spectators back in time to his heyday with a mighty 183 runs not out. For Tupapa the lone bright spot was Dash with a four-wicket haul for only 16 runs. Finishing at 252/6 in 20 overs, the Rookies then dispatched the Tupapa side for 89/9 in 12.2 with three bowlers sharing 3 wickets each and they celebrated the first victory in club history. 

Further South at Turangi, the ladies hosted TKV and settled for a convincing 54 run victory – Turangi with 194/6 to TKV’s 140/5 in 20 overs. Both sides made solid contact off the artificial pitch, and it showed as they both finished 20 overs with wickets to spare. Kimi set Turangi’s pace with 85 runs before she departed.  In reply TKV lost the top of their order before stabilising with the final three batters posting 37, 29, and 21 runs before the innings closed.

The men’s game that followed had the home side victorious again. This effort was a comprehensive display with bat and ball, as Turangi cruised to a massive 178 run win. Led by their general Vane Tangimetua Sr and his 103-runsmashing supported by Richard Piakura’s 52 runs, the century and a half was more than sufficient. 

TKV came to bat with a climb too steep and were caught in a hailstorm of Moni Uini. The Turangi fireballer took six wickets for 17 runs, and TKV was gone for 47 all up. The final scoreboard showed Turangi 225/7 in 20 overs against TKV 47/10 in 12. 

On the beach in Muri the hosts played the teams in red from out west and split the showing.  The defending champ Muri Ladies took care of business in a 132/6 victory over Arorangi’s 103/7. National team player Punanga Kaveo led the Muri side with 35 runs, while her tour captain, Juen George replied with 30 for the Red Hot Babes. Both teams spread the bowling attacks around with Muri’s Phillica Maruariki grabbing the high of 3 wickets in her 4 over spell.

The Muri men then took to Nukupure to emulate their women but fell short for a second straight week. Manu Emile’s Redback side set Muri a chase of 155 with a line of 154/8 in 20 overs. Muri captain Tomasi Vanuarua was valiant in reply with 55 runs before west-sider Sione knocked his bails off.

On the northside of Rarotonga at Nikao, the K11 Orcas claimed their first win of the competition, handing the Nikao II White Wolves their initial defeat. K11 dismissed Nikao for 94 runs in 10 overs, with Osolai Akai bagging 4 wolf pelts in his bowling spell. The Orcas then chased it down in the same number of balls with 97 runs in 10 overs for a five-wicket victory.

Nikao #1 Black Wolves and Honey Wolves had a bye.

Fixtures

Men’s Round 3: K-11 (Tupapa) vs Muri at Matavera Field; Nikao 2 vs        Nikao 1 at Nikao Field; Arorangi vs Tupapa 1 at Raemaru Park; Turangi vs Tupapa 2 at Turangi Oval. Takuvaine (TKV) – Bye. Women’s Round 2: K-11 Women (Tupapa) vs Muri at Matavera Field; Nikao vs Turangi at Nikao Field; Arorangi vs Tupapa at Raemaru Park. Bye – Takuvaine (TKV).

RESULTS

MEN

Tupapa 89-9 (12.2) vs Tupapa Young Rookies 252-6 (20) - TYR won by 163 runs.

Turangi 225-7 (20) vs. TKV 47-10 (12) - Turangi won by 178 runs.

Muri 109-10 (18.2) vs Arorangi 154-8 (20) – Arorangi won by 55 runs.

K11 97-5 (10) vs. Nikao #2 94-10 (10) - K11 won by 5 wickets.

WOMEN

Tupapa 161-8 (20) vs K11 94-8 (20) - Tupapa won by 67 runs.

Turangi 194-6 (20) vs. TKV 140-5 (20) - Turangi won by 54 runs.

Muri 132-6 (20) vs Arorangi 103-7 (20) - Muri won by 29 runs.

STANDINGS

MEN'S TEAM	Games	Won	Lost	Draw	Points	NRR
Turangi Young Guns	2	2	0	0	6	4.997
Tupapa Young Rookies	1	1	0	0	3	5.384
Nikao #1 Black Wolves	1	1	0	0	3	1.507
Arorangi Redbacks	2	1	1	0	3	0.682
K11 Orcas	2	1	1	0	3	-2.333
Nikao #2 White Wolves	2	1	1	0	3	-3.146
Takuvaine Bats	2	1	1	0	3	-4.275
Muri Creeps	2	0	2	0	0	-1.464
Tupapa Panthers	2	0	2	0	0	-6.500

WOMEN'S TEAM	Games	Won	Lost	Draw	Points	NRR
Tupapa Panthers	1	1	0	0	3	3.350
Turangi Young Guns	1	1	0	0	3	2.700
Muri Creeps	1	1	0	0	3	1.450
Nikao Honey Wolves	0	0	0	0	0	0.000
Arorangi Red Hot Babes	1	0	1	0	0	-1.450
Takuvaine Bats	1	0	1	0	0	-2.700
K11 Orcas	1	0	1	0	0	-3.350

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 30^th FIXTURES

MEN		Round 3	30/09/2023
Home	vs	Visitor	VENUE
K-11 (Tupapa)	vs	Muri	Matavera Field
Nikao 2	vs	Nikao 1	Nikao Field
Arorangi	vs	Tupapa 1	Raemaru Park
Turangi	vs	Tupapa 2	Turangi Oval
No Game - Bye	vs	Takuvaine (TKV)	No Game
WOMEN		Round 2	30/09/2023
Home	vs	Visitor	VENUE
K-11 Women (Tupapa)	vs	Muri	Matavera Field
Nikao	vs	Turangi	Nikao Field
Arorangi	vs	Tupapa	Raemaru Park
No Game - Bye		Takuvaine (TKV)	No Game