Japan and Vanuatu defeat Cook Islands women

The Cook Islands has lost by nine runs to home team Vanuatu in its second match in the 2012 Pepsi ICC East Asia-Pacific Women’s Championship.

Vanuatu made it two wins from as many matches with its hard fought win against the Cook Islands on Sunday CIT.

Alvina Chilia again starred with the bat making 36 off just 33 balls and had Vanuatu on target for a big score.

However, Marion Larson’s accurate bowling brought the Cook Islands right back into the match as she finished with impressive figures of 3-20.

Larson was again in the action in the run chase smashing 46 runs off 48 balls to keep the Cook Islands right in contention. But just when it looked like they could claim their first victory of the tournament, Vanuatu’s Edna Mansale dismissed Larson and the hosts claimed a well-deserved victory.

While disappointed to lose, Cook Islands coach Glenn Miller still saw some positives out of the way his girls played on the first day.

”It was pleasing to be so competitive in this game against Vanuatu, but there is still some room for improvement in our bowling and fielding,“ he said.

”However, I am very pleased with the way we batted to nearly get there.“

In their first match, the Cook Islands went down to a dominant Japanese side.

Japan was never troubled in their first match against the Cook Islands with a 10 wicket victory.

Led by captain Ema Kuribayashi (2 wickets) and Atsuko Kitamura (3 wickets), Japan restricted the Cook Islands to all out for 53 from 14.4 overs.

In reply the Japanese openers Mariko Yamamoto and Miho Kanno cruised to the required total in just six overs without loss.

Both Vanuatu and Japan remain undefeated in the competition, as does Papua New Guinea. Samoa, Fiji and the Cook Islands all have two loses from two games.

The Cook Islands is due to play Samoa in its next match, before facing Fiji in the fourth round of the competition.

Results: Game 1: Cook Islands 10-53, 14.4 overs (Kamoe 7, Ngarua 7; Kitamura 3-9); defeated by Japan 0-55, 6.0 overs (Yamamoto 25 not out, Kanno 14 not out). Japan won by 10 wickets. Game 2: Vanuatu 6-127, 20.0 overs (Chilia 36, Masauvakalo 18; Larson 3-20. Moetaua 2-13); defeated Cook Islands 7-118, 20.0 overs (Larsen 46, Moetaua 19 not out; Tukana 2-21). Vanuatu won by 9 runs.