Samoa claimed a narrow 10-run victory over Vanuatu in a high-scoring thriller during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Region Qualifier A at Faleata Oval No 2. Led by an explosive century from Darius Visser, Samoa posted a challenging total of 174 before holding off a determined chase from Vanuatu to secure the win.
Match Report:
Electing to bat first, Samoa found themselves heavily reliant on a spectacular innings from Darius Visser, who single-handedly powered them to 174 all out. Visser smashed 132 off just 62 balls, hitting a record-breaking 14 sixes and 104 runs in boundaries, setting new benchmarks for Samoa in T20Is. His innings overshadowed the rest of the lineup, with Caleb Jasmat’s 16 being the only other double-digit score. Tim Cutler was the pick of the Vanuatu bowlers, claiming 3/11 in his four overs, while Darren Wotu chipped in with 2/33.
In response, Vanuatu’s chase was anchored by Nalin Nipiko’s resilient 73 off 52 balls, but despite his efforts, they fell just short, finishing on 164/9. Douglas Finau (3/34) and Daniel Burgess (2/14) were key in applying pressure, ensuring Samoa held on for a 10-run victory.
Key Moments:
- Darius Visser’s Record-Breaking Century: Visser’s 132 is now the highest individual score in T20Is for Samoa, surpassing Dom Michael’s 63, and his 14 sixes also set a new record for the most sixes in an innings by a Samoan player.
- Nalin Nipiko’s Costly Over: Nalin Nipiko set an unwanted record for Vanuatu, conceding 61 runs in his four overs, the most by a Vanuatu bowler in T20Is.
Additional Records:
- Darius Visser’s 132 is the highest individual score for Samoa in T20Is, surpassing Dom Michael’s previous record of 63.
- Visser set a new record for the most sixes (14) in an innings for Samoa, breaking Mulivai’s previous record of 6.
- Visser also broke the record for most runs in boundaries (104) in an innings for Samoa, surpassing Paul Rarotoga’s 44.
- Nalin Nipiko set the record for conceding the most runs (61) in a T20I innings for Vanuatu, surpassing Joshua Rasu’s 45.
Brief Scores:
Samoa: 174 all out in 20 overs (Darius Visser 132, Tim Cutler 3/11, Darren Wotu 2/33).
Vanuatu: 164/9 in 20 overs (Nalin Nipiko 73, Douglas Finau 3/34, Daniel Burgess 2/14).
Samoa’s thrilling win, driven by Darius Visser’s extraordinary performance, keeps their hopes alive in the qualifiers, while Vanuatu will look to regroup after coming agonizingly close to chasing down a formidable target.
