Cook Islands continued their impressive form in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Region Qualifier A by defeating Samoa by 7 wickets at Faleata Oval No. 2. The Cook Islands chased down a modest target of 105 with 31 balls to spare, thanks to a well-rounded performance from Player of the Match, Cory Dickson.
Match Report:
Samoa, after being put in to bat by Cook Islands, struggled to build partnerships and were bowled out for 104 in 18.3 overs. Caleb Jasmat was the lone bright spot for Samoa, scoring an unbeaten 42 off 32 balls. Darius Visser provided some resistance with a quick 21 off 11 balls. However, the Cook Islands’ bowlers were relentless, with Oscar Taylor taking 3/36 and Jared Tutty chipping in with 2/17 from his 4 overs.
In response, Cook Islands chased down the target comfortably in 14.5 overs, finishing at 105/3. Hayden Dickson set the tone with a brisk 30 off 19 balls, while Cory Dickson anchored the innings with an unbeaten 30 off 27 balls. Saumani Tiai’s tight spell of 2/13 in 4 overs briefly troubled the Cook Islands, but it wasn’t enough to prevent their victory.
Key Moments:
- Cory Dickson’s All-Round Performance: Dickson not only contributed with the bat, scoring 30* off 27, but also bowled economically, taking 1/14 in his 3 overs.
- Oscar Taylor’s 3-Wicket Haul: Taylor’s 3/36 dismantled Samoa’s middle and lower order, ensuring they never gained momentum.
- Ma’ara Ave’s Record-Breaking Performance: Ma’ara Ave set a new record for Cook Islands with the most dismissals (2) by a wicketkeeper in a T20I innings, surpassing the previous record held by Glenn Miller.
Brief Scores:
Samoa: 104 all out in 18.3 overs (Caleb Jasmat 42*, Oscar Taylor 3/36, Jared Tutty 2/17).
Cook Islands: 105/3 in 14.5 overs (Hayden Dickson 30, Cory Dickson 30*; Saumani Tiai 2/13).
Cook Islands’ 7-wicket victory over Samoa solidified their strong position in the qualifiers. With a disciplined bowling performance and a steady chase, they made short work of Samoa’s total. Cory Dickson’s all-round display was instrumental in securing the win, while Ma’ara Ave’s record-setting wicketkeeping further highlighted the team’s dominance. Samoa will need to regroup quickly as they aim to improve in the remaining matches of the tournament.
