Tight battle leads to Women’s Pacific Cup finals today

Plenty of laughs, spectacular sixes, cracking bowls and even singing have been some of the highlights at the Ngatangiia sports grounds where the first of the ‘Festival of Cricket’ events has been providing plenty of boom action.

The Festival of Cricket is made up of four tournaments over the month of January.

Cricket Cook Islands chief executive officer Alister Stevic says the annual Festival of Cricket is a strategy to increase the number of visiting cricket teams to the Cook Islands.

“By running the Festival of Cricket we encourage overseas teams to attend and take on our local talent,” says Stevic.

“The benefits for the Cook Islands cricket community go beyond fun and enjoyment as our aspiring national players get the opportunity to play against overseas teams, learn skills from them and understand a different approach to playing cricket.”

Stevic says that this is the first year the Festival of Cricket has been run and that 13 teams have already registered and paid a non-refundable deposit to take part in the 2015 Festival of Cricket.

“It has been a hard slog to encourage teams to come; however with the tournament underway overseas teams have seen the videos and imagery on our social media and are excited to attend.” Stevic says that the association is happy with the 13 registrations so far; however they are hoping to increase that number to 20 for 2015.

Heading into today’s finals action of the Women’s Pacific Cup, New Zealand and Pukapuka are at the top of the table closely followed by Ngatangiia and Arorangi, both looking to book spots in the semi-finals.

The three remaining teams to fight it out for a semi’s spot are Takitumu, Mauke and Pukapuka Wale.

Dorthy Kiria (Arorangi) has been in sensational form having scored over 200 runs including a century and a not out half century, while Maloku Mataora (Pukapuka NZ), Jasminda Tuaputa (Takitumu), Teiti Tupuna (Arorangi) and Tekura Kaukura have all taken five wickets in the tournament.

Today’s matches swing into action from 9am with the semi-finals, followed by the 5th and 6th playoff at 12:30 and the grand finale at 3:30pm.