Rachel Andrew made history on September 9, 2025, becoming the first Vanuatu player to surpass 1,000 runs in the T20 International (T20I) format during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup East Asia Pacific Qualifier in Fiji.
The 27-year-old all-rounder achieved this milestone in a crucial match against Indonesia at Albert Park 1, Suva, where she led from the front with a commanding unbeaten 85* off 71 balls, including 14 boundaries and a six, while carrying her bat through the innings.
Complementing her batting heroics, Andrew delivered an exceptional bowling performance, finishing with figures of 4-1-10-3, highlighted by a match-turning hat-trick. Her all-round excellence earned her the Player of the Match award as Vanuatu secured a vital 10-run victory.
Chased by Indonesia’s skipper Ni Wayan Sariani’s decision to bowl first, Vanuatu’s Rachel Andrew anchored the innings with remarkable composure and skill. Her unbeaten 85 runs not only propelled her team to a competitive total but also cemented her place as the first Vanuatu cricketer to cross the 1,000-run mark in T20Is. Throughout her innings, she controlled the game’s tempo with 14 fours and a six, exemplifying both patience and aggression in equal measure.
Her dominance was not limited to batting; Andrew’s bowling spell, which included a breakthrough hat-trick, played a pivotal role in dismantling the Indonesian batting line-up and clinching the narrow 10-run win for her team. She also became only the 2nd player, after former Vanuatu skipper Selina Solman, to score a half-century and pick a hat-trick in the same T20I.
Rachel Andrew’s journey as an international cricketer began on May 6, 2019, when she debuted against Papua New Guinea at Port Vila. Since then, the Vanuatu skipper has amassed 1,003 runs in 49 T20I matches, featuring in 48 innings with an impressive strike rate of 97.56 and an average of 23.88. She boasts three half-centuries and one century to her name, with her highest score being an unbeaten 106* against the Cook Islands during the 2024 Women’s T20 Pacific Cup at Lloyd Elsmore Park, Auckland, a memorable match that saw Vanuatu claim a commanding 120-run victory.
On the bowling front, Andrew complements her batting prowess with consistent wicket-taking ability. She has claimed 52 wickets from 47 innings, maintaining a stellar average of 12.55 and an economical rate of 4.33 runs per over. Her all-round contributions have made her indispensable to the Vanuatu squad, marking her as one of the most promising talents in Associate women’s cricket globally.
Rachel Andrew’s milestone is a defining moment not just for her career but for Vanuatu cricket as a whole. Becoming the first player from her country to cross 1,000 runs in T20Is highlights her sustained excellence and leadership. Her ability to perform with both bat and ball in high stakes matches underlines the growing competence and competitiveness of Vanuatu’s women’s cricket on the international stage.
This achievement, combined with her vital role in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup East Asia Pacific Qualifier 2025, symbolizes a bright future for Vanuatu cricket and serves as an inspiration for aspiring cricketers across the Pacific.
Andrew’s continued presence and performances on the field resonate beyond statistics; they tell the story of dedication, resilience, and the emergence of a cricketing powerhouse emerging from the Associate nations.
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