Mixed bag for EAP in ACCC Twenty20 rounds

Two rounds of Twenty20 matches were completed in the Australian Country Cricket Championships (ACCC) on Friday 6 January and the East Asia-Pacific side will have mixed feelings after a win and a loss.

Powerful striker Assad Vala got EAP off to a strong start batting first in game one against ACT. He found the boundary five times, scoring 31 from 26 balls. Despite Vala's free scoring, wickets fell at the other end and at 4/49 it took the experienced duo of Vani Morea (36) and Andrew Mansale (33) to steady the ship. The pair put on 61 for the fifth wicket and along with some lusty blows at the end from Samoan powerhouse Fa'asao Mulivai (19), the EAP side reached 143 from its 20 overs.

Tight bowling and early wickets from the start of the EAP fielding effort meant pressure mounted on the ACT batsmen and the required run-rate rose quickly. Four of the seven bowlers used picked up a wicket, but it was the spin bowling of Mahuru Dai that clinched the match. Dai's three overs went for just 14 runs and he took four wickets, assisting his side to dismiss ACT for 84 runs within 16 overs. Vani Morea backed up his solid batting contribution with a fantastic effort in the field, regularly creating opportunities and effecting two run-outs that brought the ACT innings to an end.

Buoyed by the morning win, the EAP side then had to change plans for game two, losing the toss to Western Australia Country and bowling first. WA got off to a flyer and at the halfway point of their innings were in a strong position at 2/86. However another fine bowling performance from Dai (3-29), this time supported by Joel Tom (2-20), reeled the WA batsmen back in and at the end of their 20 overs they finished on 142.

Requiring exactly the same total they had notched up in game one, the EAP batsmen could not gain any momentum in their run chase. Quick early wickets left the team reeling at 4/20, leaving captain Mansale again responsible for rebuilding the innings. In combination with Jason Kila, who smashed 35 from just 20 balls, the EAP side got back into the hunt, however the loss of Mansale for 21 started a steady flow of wickets and the innings came to a close from the last ball of the 17th over with the score on 103.

At the halfway point of the tournament EAP now sit in fourth place on 11 points with two wins from four games. Round 5 starts today (8 January) and will see them play a two-day match against Victoria Country, a team that is yet to win a game in the ACCC.

For up to date scorecards and ladders go to MyCricket.com.au.

Short Scoreboards:Round 3: East Asia-Pacific 143 (V Morea 36, A Mansale 33, A Vala 31) defeated Australian Capital Territory 84 (M Dai 4-14) by 59 runs.Round 4: Western Australia Country 142 (J Kila 3-39, M Dai 3-29) defeated East Asia-Pacific 103 (J Kila 35) by 39 runs.Points Table:NSW 21; QLD 13; SA 12; EAP, WA 11; ACT 10; NT 6; Vic 0