Samoa finished at the top of the Women’s Under-19 EAP Qualifiers table to book a spot for their maiden World Cup appearance.
The Samoan women’s team, led by skipper Avetia Fetu Mapu scripted history in the ICC Women’s Under-19 East Asia Pacific Qualifier in Indonesia. They became the first Samoan team to qualify for a World Cup in men’s and women’s cricket across any format or age level.
A total of four teams namely, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, hosts Indonesia and Samoa participated in the ICC Women’s Under-19 East Asia Pacific Qualifier. The Samoan women’s team, led by skipper Avetia Fetu Mapu had a stellar run in the tournament. They finished at the top of the points table with 10 points from six games. Their only defeat in the tournament came against Papua New Guinea in the 2nd round of the face-off between both of those sides.
The hosts, Indonesia led by skipper Lie Qiao narrowly missed out on qualification courtesy of their 8-run defeat against Samoa in the 2nd round of the face-off between both of those sides. They finished 2nd on the points table with eight points from six games. Both their defeats in the tournament came against Samoa.
Papua New Guinea led by skipper Dika Lohia finished 3rd on the points table with six points from six games, which included three victories and three defeats. All of their victories in the tournament came against Fiji and Samoa. The Fiji women’s team led by skipper Mele Waqanisau were the only team that failed to taste any amount of success in the tournament and as a result, were placed at the bottom of the points table with six defeats from six games.
The Samoan women’s team led by skipper Avetia Fetu Mapu courtesy of their top-of-the-table finish in the ICC Women’s Under-19 East Asia Pacific (EAP) Qualifier booked their spot for the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup which is scheduled to take place next year.