Update: 7:25PM Samoa has shown it is a serious contender in women’s cricket at the Port Moresby 2015 Pacific Games by convincingly winning all four of its T20 games so far at Bisini Grounds.
On Thursday, Samoa restricted Fiji to six for 92 from its 20 overs and then needed just 10.2 overs to rack up 93 for the loss of just one wicket.
This result followed on from solid wins over Cook Islands and Vanuatu on Tuesday, and a massive 147-run win over New Caledonia on Monday when Samoa scored 204 off its 20 overs.
Ian West, the coach of Samoa, said expectations are always high for his side at regional competitions such as the Pacific Games.
“PNG is always our biggest rival,” West said. “We have come close to beating PNG but we haven’t quite finished it off the way we wanted.”
“We play aggressive cricket. It’s not the most technical style of play but it’s the Samoan way and that’s the way we want to play. If we can do that and execute that, we can beat anybody.”
Talented 28-year-old Regina Lilii has been the cornerstone of Samoa’s good performances so far in Port Moresby, including a knock of 60 in the victory over New Caledonia.
“Regina is our best all rounder player and she is the team captain so we are expecting big things from her,” West said. “And we are looking forward to playing PNG because they’re always a tough side.”
That meeting with Papua New Guinea comes on Friday at 10am, and will decide who remains undefeated in the tournament, but both teams still look destined to meet again on Saturday afternoon when the medals are decided.
