Two wickets were all it took for Adi Cakobau School to lift the winning trophy of the National Women’s Under-19 Cricket Tournament at Albert Park in Suva on Friday.
ACS won over Moce Secondary School after an exciting showdown, coming back stronger from their deficit in the first inning.
Moce batted first to open the final and kept ACS on edge in the first inning, leading with 95 runs.
After the break, the second inning got underway with ACS advancing from their deficit with steady progress on the scoresheet.
The game came down to the wire as both teams were tied at one wicket when ACS fielded the winning shot to emerge victorious after a hard fought match.
Cricket Fiji development officer Ilisapeci Waqavakatoga, who helped coached the ACS side, credited the win as the success of a development programme that began two years ago.
“Winning the final today was our main target this year since this is the first time the under-19 girls are having a national competition,” Waqavakatoga said.
“The main message I shared with them was that this trophy would be returning with us to Sawani today.”
Yesterday’s victory was a moment of glory after two years of learning how to play the game, considering their humble beginnings then, according to Waqavakatoga.
“When they first began playing, they never knew anything at all about cricket and had to be taught over time.
She added half of the players were from Lau and the others were not, however teaching the players how to play it gave way to massive improvement and two years later, the winning result they achieved yesterday.
