The Suva Capitals have clinched the EPL title thanks to a Man of the Match performance from Jikoi Kida in their deciding match against the Sigatoka Dunes in Nadi on Saturday.
Kida following up from an outstanding performance with the bat (93) when the two sides last met on November 28, took 7 for 26 from 10 overs.
Batting first, the Dunes got off to a good start and when they found themselves at 1 for 49 after 10 overs they must have been confident of posting a good total to defend.
However, when Kida struck for the first time claiming Sekove Ravoka, who had scored a patient 27, it was the start of a string of wickets to fall.
Joe Rika who was in need of some time at the crease in preparation for next month's ACC tournament, hit a number of impressive drives as he worked his way to 44.
But Kida struck again, removing Rika's off stump after which the Dunes struggled to a score of 132.
When the Capitals batted the innings took a similar path.
Omid Saberi (22) and Sekove Vouvou (13) put on a 38 run opening stand before Saberi followed up a couple of slashing drives with one lofted shot too many and was caught off the bowling of Viliame Yabaki.
Yabaki and fellow spinner Malcolm Bossley then took control for the Dunes.
Between them, they claimed five wickets and when Bossley claimed the scalp of Kida with the score at 5 for 79 the Dunes knew that if they could restrict the Capitals to less than 105 they would win the EPL title on run rate.
However, it wasn’t to be and thanks to some late partnerships between Greg Browne, Tanveer Shah and Peni Rika the Capitals reached their target for the loss of 7 wickets in 40 overs.
It was a close final and a fitting way to end what had been a very tight six week competition.
Moreover, the national selectors were able to rate players against one another and in a high standard tournament.
Cricket Fiji are due shortly to announce the national squad for World Cricket League Division 5 in Nepal in February.
And there are a number of players who will have put themselves in contention during the EPL.
Kida's seven wicket haul and 93 against the Dunes, David Kachor's unbeaten 100 against the Bulldogs, Sekove Ravoka's 72 versus the Bulldogs, Lee Waqa's 7 for 16 against the Bulldogs and Iniasi Cakacaka's 5 wickets against the Capitals and 52 versus the Dunes were amongst the finest performances of the competition.
19 year old Maciu Gauna, who has scored 449 runs at 64.14 for Australian club Wests-Illawarra this season, will be a strong chance to be named in the Fiji squad, as will Jo Baba, the current leader in the 2009 CricketEurope EAP Player of the Year poll
