EAP caps off best ever ACCC with resounding win

Heading into the last round of the 2013 Australian Country Cricket Championships the East Asia-Pacific side needed one more scalp to break its record of the most number of victories in a single carnival. Twelve months ago the team set that record at three wins when it beat Victoria, Northern Territory and ACT in Geelong. Testament to the ever improving standard of cricket in the region, the 2013 side went one better and crushed Northern Territory by eight wickets to register its fourth victory and secure fourth spot on the ladder.

Northern Territory was also chasing a top four finish and came out firing with the bat. On a flat wicket and an outfield that was lightning fast their top order dispatched EAP's strike bowlers to all parts of the ground. At the first drinks break a score of 300 plus looked possible as the boys from the Top End reached 1/104 from 17 overs. The run-rate slowed in the next hour but at 4/162 with 15 overs remaining a strong platform had been set.

Enter PNG's Tony Ura who then proceeded to play the match of his tournament. The talented batsman and part-time off-spinner had threatened to dominate in earlier rounds but never quite stamped his mark on the carnival. Supported by some tight spin bowling at the other end from Vanuatu's Andrew Mansale, Ura snared 6-21 to suffocate the Northern Territory innings and leave EAP with 215 to chase for victory.

Full of confidence from his best ever bowling return, Ura then put on a batting masterclass matched only by his countryman Assad Vala's unbeaten century from round four. He was quick to pounce on any short deliveries, hitting eleven 4's and five 6's on his way to 124 not out from just 91 deliveries. Chris Kent provided the ideal foil at the other end as the pair combined for a third wicket partnership of 168 that saw EAP pass the target score with more than 10 overs to spare. Kent finished unbeaten on 68.

Skipper Chris Amini was quick to single out Ura for his man of the match performance. "Tony was on fire today and showed just how classy a player he is. That century was magnificent and when he's in that type of form he can be unstoppable. I think he's also quite happy to be giving some of our frontline bowlers some stick after taking six wickets!"

After a long two weeks team manager Pierre Chilia was very proud of the team and the way that they had represented the East Asia-Pacific region. "I believe we've raised a few eyebrows ? we have some very talented players who have not gone unnoticed by some influential people within Australian cricket."

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Short Scoreboard:

Round 7 (14 January): Northern Territory 214 (T Ura 6-21, C Amini 3-49) lost to East Asia-Pacific 2/219 (T Ura 124*, C Kent 68*) by eight wickets.

Standings: