Vanuatu are on target to qualify for the 2010 World Cricket League Division 8 tournament after clinically outpointing their main rivals Samoa in the Division two East Asia Pacific Trophy game in Apia today.

Batting first, Vanuatu posted a solid 233 as Simpson Obed replicated his effort against Canada Under-19's a little over a week ago, scoring a superb 108. Patrick Matautaava (41) and Trevor Langa (23) gave him excellent support. Samoa's Lautala Fuimoana had another good day picking up 3 for 39. Aby John was the hero for Vanuatu with the ball. In 11 international matches, he had never taken a wicket. Today he took a five for. Big hitting Samoan Faasao Mulivai made a rapid 56 with 2 fours and 5 sixes but it wasn't enough as his side went down by 87 runs.

Cook Islands kept their WCL qualifying hopes alive with a hard fought 2 wicket victory over Tonga. Pita Tare produced a career best man of the match bowling performance for Cooks taking 6 for 27. Four Tongan batsmen made good starts but none of them went on to score anything worthwhile. Aisake Haukinima's 27 was the best. In reply, Cooks were cruising at 139-5 after 38 overs but the Tongan bowlers were able to build pressure in the last 10, forcing errors and taking wickets as the run rate required started to rise. Wayken Punga, making his 50 over international debut, held his nerve to finish unbeaten on 17 as Cooks fell over the line with just two balls to spare.

In the Division one match, Papua New Guinea's fast bowlers blasted Japan out for a meagre 41. The PNG bowling figures make fascinating reading. Willie Gavera (7-1-8-3), Joel Tom (10-1-8-4), Pipi Raho (6-4-2-0), Vali Albert (9-3-10-2) and Mahuta Kivung (3-1-3-1) all bowled with astounding control.

It only took PNG 5.2 overs to chase down the required target. Kila Pala hit 4 sixes in a typically cavalier 37. Japan had batted doggedly for 34 overs to post their 41.

Division One

Japan 41 (34) Joel Tom 4-8, Willie Gavera 3-8, Vali Albert 2-10 lost to Papua New Guinea 46-1 (5.2) Kila Pala 37*

Division Two

Tonga 166 (45.4) Aisake Haukinima 27, Sione Holi 25, Tali Filiai 23, Viliame Langi 22, Pita Tare 6-27 lost to Cook Islands 167-8 (49.4) Tino Etita 43, Davis Teinaki 22

Vanuatu 233 (48.2) Simpson Obed 108, Patrick Matautaava 41, Trevor Langa 23, Lautala Fuimoana 3-39 defeated Samoa 146 (31) Faasao Mulivai 56, Murphy Su'a 27*, Aby John 5-37, Patrick Haines 3-48

Leading run scorers (50 over competition) 

1. Simpson Obed (Vanuatu) 108 at 108.00
2. Tino Etita (Cook Is) 85 at 28.33
3. Ajantha Thenuwara (Indonesia) 67 at 33.50
4. Faasao Mulivai (Samoa) 65 at 32.50
5. Josaia Baba (Fiji) 63 at 63.00
6. Ben Mailata (Samoa) 63 at 31.50
7. Damien Smith (Vanuatu) 56 at 56.00
8. Geoff Clarke (Samoa) 52 at 26.00
9. Davis Teinaki (Cook Is) 52 at 26.00
10. Chris Brown (Cook Is) 51 at 25.50

Leading wicket takers (50 over competition) 

1. Lautala Fuimoana (Samoa) 8 at 8.87
2. Tino Etita (Cook Is) 7 at 8.28
3. Sakaraia Lomani (Fiji) 6 at 7.33
4. Pita Tare (Cook Is) 6 at 10.00
5. Simpson Obed (Vanuatu) 5 at 4.00
6. Pipi Raho (PNG) 5 at 4.00
7. Aby John (Vanuatu) 5 at 7.40
8. Simione Latu (Tonga) 5 at 10.60
9. Faasao Mulivai (Samoa) 5 at 19.80
10. Joel Tom (PNG) 4 at 2.00