Youngsters shine in invitational

The National Mens cricket team has held off a spirited fight from the invitational Presidents XI on Saturday, a six off Joe Josephs bat bringing up the win.

The Telecom Cook Islands National Mens squad took out the 20-over exhibition match with four overs to spare, winning out over the 187 runs posted by the Presidents XI.

National Mens captain Glenn Miller posted a high score of 53 (out) for the team, with Joseph close behind on 51 (not out) when he hit the winning runs.

Presidents XI opening batters Apii Mamanu and Panapa Hagai put in the best partnership for the day, amassing 100 runs between them in the first 10 overs of the day. Nooroto William also scored well for the Presidents men, knocking up 63 runs in his time at the crease.

Sixteen-year-old Tuaine Mamanu put in an impressive stint bowling for the National squad, slowing the opposition opening duos run rate down on one end of the pitch while the wickets began to fall on the other.

The Presidents XI faced a tough ask to defend the 187 posted, a score that falls about 20 runs short of the desired total for the Turangi cricket field.

The National team stumbled when its batters first hit the pitch, slumping to 33 for three wickets before Miller arrived.

Selectors look as if they will have some tough years ahead of them in picking the Cook Islands top 11 cricketers for the national squad with a few fresh faces showing their talent on the day.

Fourteen-year-old Pastor Takaria showed some skills beyond his years when he took up the bat, giving the onlookers some good hope for the future of Cook Islands cricket and no doubt making some of the current players a little nervous.