The PacificAus Sports Cricket Invitational 2025, hosted in Port Moresby from June 15th to 21st, showcased the finest talents in women’s cricket from the Pacific.
With Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and Samoa vying for glory, the week-long tournament unfolded as a celebration of courage, growth, and sparkling individual performances. Here’s a look at the journey of each team, their shining stars, and the turning points that defined the series.
Papua New Guinea: Champions Embodying Dominance and Unity
Papua New Guinea, under the inspired leadership of skipper Brenda Tau, put on a cricketing clinic throughout the tournament. Remaining the only unbeaten side, they secured the title in front of their home crowd with clinical precision, tallying 8 points from 4 games.
Much of their success stemmed from the all-round brilliance of Henao Thomas, the 23-year-old off-spinner, who redefined the art of contributing in both departments. Thomas wasn’t just the leading run-scorer for PNG but also the top scorer for the entire tournament, amassing 99 runs at a strike rate of 83.19 and an average of 24.75, anchoring crucial chases and building strong platforms. She also picked up four wickets in four innings with the ball for her side in the tournament.
With the ball, it was the fiery Isabel Toua who led the charge. The 29-year-old pacer was relentless, claiming 9 wickets at a miserly average of 3.66 and a stingy economy of 2.67. Her memorable four-wicket haul was a defining moment, breaking the back of the opposition and highlighting PNG’s depth in pace bowling. Together, PNG’s balanced attack and versatile batting made them deserved champions, undefeated, unbowed, and unbreakable.
Vanuatu: Grit, Growth, and Glimpses of Brilliance
For Vanuatu, the PacificAus Invitational was a tournament of near-misses and flashes of brilliance. Guided by the spirited Rachel Andrew, they ended 2nd on the points table with 3 points, showing immense promise despite two defeats and a rain-hit game against Samoa.
Andrew herself was Vanuatu’s anchor, finishing as the team’s leading run-scorer and the tournament’s second highest. Her 79 runs at a strike rate of 83.15 and an average of 19.75, including a vital half-century, were testament to her ability to absorb pressure and build innings.
On the bowling front, the young and exciting Rayline Ova emerged as a revelation. The 24-year-old pacer’s raw pace and control saw her claim 7 wickets at an impressive average of 5.85 and an economy of 3.56, including a spectacular five-wicket haul. Ova’s performances offered Vanuatu a potent weapon for the future and earned her respect across the region.
Though Vanuatu finished second, their blend of youthful energy and steely resilience suggests they are a team on the rise, one to watch closely in coming seasons.
Samoa: Lessons in Resilience Through Trails
Samoa’s campaign, unfortunately, never quite hit top gear. Under the captaincy of Tuaoloa Semau, the Samoan side endured a tough run, winless in the tournament, with just one point accrued from a rain-abandoned encounter with Vanuatu.
Yet, even in adversity, there were rays of hope. Taalili Losefo emerged as a dual force for Samoa: with the bat, she led the charts for her team (57 runs at an explosive strike rate of 109.61 and an average of 19), and with the ball, she was amongst the most reliable in the tournament (6 wickets at 10.83 average and an economy of 4.87). Losefo’s performances were a bright spot, as she matched the efforts of the tournament’s best bowlers, including the likes of Mairi Tom (PNG) and Vanessa Vira (Vanuatu).
Samoa’s young squad encountered hard lessons, but their fighting spirit, epitomised by Losefo’s all-round efforts, lays a foundation they can build upon in future editions.
The PacificAus Sports Cricket Invitational 2025 delivered drama, skill, and a platform for emerging stars. Papua New Guinea’s unbeaten campaign set a new standard for excellence in the region, while Vanuatu’s and Samoa’s journeys underlined the growing depth and passion for women’s cricket in the Pacific.
As the stumps are drawn on this year’s tournament, one thing is clear: the future of Pacific women’s cricket is bold, bright, and brimming with potential. The stories written in Port Moresby this June will inspire the next generation, and the stage is now set for even greater rivalries, heroes, and history in the years to come.
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