East Asia-Pacific have produced an outstanding bowling effort to win the final game of the Australian Country Cricket Championships against ACT in Albury-Wodonga today.

Resuming at 69 for 6 this morning, chasing 171 for victory, ACT were able to make a remarkable comeback due largely to a fighting innings of 82 by captain John Nicol. ACT wickets fell at 85 and 106 before a stand of 53 between Nicol and Shane Devoy (13) took the total to 159 for 8 with victory in sight.

Loa Nou and Vani Vagi Morea combined to dismiss Nicol and with the total on 163 Devoy was also caught by Morea, this time off the bowling of Willie Gavera. Nou finished with the figures of 31-10-68-5 while Gavera was also superb to take 42-3 from 26 overs.

Wednesday's EAP total of 170 was built around another masterful knock of 95 from Assad Vala. Andrew Mansale chipped in with a determined 30.

At the close of play on Wednesday evening, Vala had risen to be the number one run maker in the tournament with 355 at 50.71. A fine achievement from the stylish PNG left hander.

Apart from the match against New South Wales, the EAP side has been in a position to win each time right up until the dying overs.

Although the points table might not reflect it, this has been one of the best performing squads to represent the region at the championships, particularly as this is a young side.

East Asia Pacific 170 (50) Assad Vala 95, Andrew Mansale 30 and 58-1 (16) Josaia Baba 31 defeated ACT 163 Loa Nou 5-68, Willie Gavera 3-42

Final Points Table 1 NT Country 31.0, 2 NSW Country 30.5, 3 QLD Country 24.0, 4 Vic Country 19.0, 5 WA Country 14.0, 6 EAP 11.0, 7 ACT 10.0, 8 SA Country 3.5

EAP Statistics

Batting
Player             Runs   HS    Ave   100 50
Assad Vala         355   103   50.71  1   2
Chris Amini        186    69   26.57  -   2
Andrew Mansale     185    65   26.42  -   1
Vani Vagi Morea    151    76   21.57  -   1
Loa Nou             64    25   21.33  -   -
Josaia Baba        139    31   17.37  -   -
Patrick Matautaava 116    32   16.57  -   -
Josefa Rika         47    23    7.83  -   -
Jeremiah Nigani     36    20    7.20  -   -
Masaomi Kobayashi   30    13    6.00  -   -
Trevor Langa        10     7    5.00  -   -
Sakaraia Lomani     10     9*   2.50  -   -
Willie Gavera        4     4    2.00  -   -
Joel Tom             0     0*   ----  -   -
Bowling
Player               W   Runs  Best    Ave
Patrick Matautaava   4    75   3-16   18.75
Willie Gavera       13   303   3-20   23.30
Loa Nou             12   286   5-68   23.83
Sakaraia Lomani      6   146   3-47   24.33
Chris Amini          4   119   2-43   29.75
Andrew Mansale       7   231   3-21   33.00
Josaia Baba          1    75   1-8    75.00
Vani Vagi Morea      0    17   ----   -----
Joel Tom             0    12   ----   -----