UNDER scorching sun at ALbert Park, Suva yesterday, the Fiji Military Forces and the Fiji Police Force cricket teams battled for cricket’s 2017 Sukuna Bowl title.
The Police team won the toss and opted to bat first scoring 142 runs with 7 out.
Opening batsman Metuisela Beitaki performed well scoring 39 runs.
Playing 30 overs, the Police had their chances in the second innings taking an early wicket within the first minute, but dropped a catch soon after.
While starting well, this proved costly for the Police who had more dropped catches as the Army team gained momentum and turned around to win with 5 overs to spare.
Soko Waqavakatoga from the Army team led the way from the crease scoring 68 runs as Army dismantled the Police team’s bowlers during the second innings.
Inoke Luveni, the Army coach, said: “We were always confident throughout the whole game. We’ve got players we believe in to do the job for us.”
“We had a strategy and I think they stuck to it throughout the match and as a result, we won the game.”
Unlike the Sukuna Bowl rugby players who have been playing club rugby together throughout the year, it is the off season for cricket meaning that both teams only had three weeks of training to prepare for the game.
“We did our preparation spiritually and mentally and we managed to achieve our mission which was to win the game,” Luveni said.
