Final positions decided in the last round!

The last round of games got away on time today as final positions were up for grabs. Rain did arrive half way through the first innings but the games were only slightly affected as the teams waited for the pitches to dry out. But with no afternoon session no one seemed to mind!

The game between Tonga and Vanuatu was going to be the one to watch as Tonga were only 2 points behind Vanuatu on the ladder after six rounds. A win for Vanuatu would guarantee them top spot on the ladder and Tonga needed to beat Vanuatu convincingly to catch up on net run rate. Tonga batted first and were all out for 74 in the 19th over. It was not enough though as Vanuatu passed the target in the 15th over, losing only 3 wickets.

The host nation, Samoa, took on reigning champions PNG in their final round match. PNG won the toss and elected to bat. Samoa had their best bowling performance so far in the Tournament, being the first team to bowl PNG out for 95. However, they weren't able to back up their first innings form as PNG tore through their batting line up. Samoa were bowled out for 24 in the 11th over.

In the last match of the round robin stage Cook Islands took on Fiji. Fiji batted first and set a tough target for Cook Islands, they were bowled out for 121. Vighnesh Murthy batted strongly at the end of their innings scoring 26 not out. Vighnesh went on to win man of match adding a devastating bowling spell to his batting performance, taking the impressive figures of 6/5 from 4 overs. Cook Islands were all bowled out for a disappointing 16.

So at the completion of all the preliminary matches Vanuatu sits on the top of the ladder ahead of PNG. They will play off for the title in tomorrow afternoon's final. Vanuatu will want to erase the memory of 2005 when they also finished undefeated in the preliminary rounds but lost to PNG in the final. Fiji will take on Tonga for 3rd place and Cook Islands will play Samoa for 5th place. These games will be played in the morning session.