n inspiring week of cricket ended with Papua New Guinea emerging as South Seas Healthcare Pacific Cup Champions for 2024.
PNG claimed back-to-back Pacific Cup titles following a 5-wicket victory over a strong Aotearoa Māori side.
Heading into the grand final, Aotearoa Māori had established themselves as the team to beat – going unbeaten through five rounds of pool play.
Electing to bat first, Aotearoa Māori enjoyed a positive start through Skye Bowden (23) and Sam Barriball (21).
Enter PNG spin-bowler, Sibona Jimmy (5-10), who took a wicket with her first ball, and continued to take big wickets throughout her spell.
She finished with a remarkable five-wicket haul, helping PNG to bowl Aotearoa Māori out for just 87 runs.
Jimmy (PNG) went on to earn Player of the Match accolades, scoring an important 25 runs to go along with her five wickets earlier in the day.
Her partnership with Tanya Ruma (21) crucial in seeing the Lewas home to a famous victory.
Vanuatu Cricket's Rachel Andrew finished as Tournament MVP, scoring a whopping 227 runs at an average of 45.
Off the field, this tournament has seen a big focus on culture and connection of the teams.
NZC have taken great pleasure in hosting teams for development workshops, cultural evenings, and BLACKCAPS / Super Smash matches.
ICC East Asia Pacific Development Manager, Rob Gomm, was full of praise for the event.
“Congratulations to all teams who took part in the South Seas Healthcare Pacific Cup, and especially to the PNG Lewas for going back-to-back,” said Gomm.
“The Pacific Cup was played in the right spirit, combining an excellent mix of on-field competition and off-field fun,”
“The sharing of cultures from across Aotearoa and the Pacific Islands was particularly special to see,”
“I would like to thank New Zealand Cricket for being such an active partner in the East Asia Pacific (EAP) region,”
“This was shown, not only through the delivery of the Pacific Cup, but also by hosting the EAP Regional Conference and an ICC Umpire Workshop in the preceding week,”
“The ICC is excited to continue this excellent partnership as we look to equip future leaders of the game.”
NZC look forward to continuing to foster these connections with the support of ICC and South Seas Healthcare in the future.
A big thanks to all those who have made this tournament possible, and to the teams themselves for making it a week to remember.
STANDINGS:
- Papua New Guinea Women
- Aotearoa Māori Women
- Vanuatu Women
- Samoa Women
- Cook Islands Women
- Fiji Women
