By Himadullah Sohoo 
Day 1 of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup East Asia Pacific (EAP) Qualifier 2025 delivered four decisive results and plenty of standout performances. Fiji eased past Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea outclassed Japan, Vanuatu edged a thriller against Indonesia thanks to a captain’s classic, and Samoa ran through the Philippines with a ruthless bowling display.
Match 1 — Fiji Women beat Cook Islands Women by 9 wickets (Albert Park 1)
Fiji’s chase of 115 was a clinic in tempo control rather than pyrotechnics. After Cook Islands squeezed out early dots with tidy angles, Sulia Vuni and Semaema Lomani chose seam-friendly, risk-averse options: straight bats, late cuts, and hard-run twos. The pair soaked up the new ball, denied maidens, and ensured the run rate never got away.
Cook Islands’ 114/6 had been hard-earned. Skipper Gabby Sullivan (21) and Tetiare Mataora (20) both fought to anchor as Fiji’s bowlers—led by captain Ilisapeci Waqavakatoga (4–0–10–2)—kept stumps in play and used the breeze cleverly. A handy finish from Koitai Mataora (10)* and Daena Kataina (10)* gave the bowlers something to defend, but Fiji’s openers had already mapped the surface.
When Lomani finally fell for 43, Fiji were 91/1 with the game under control; Vuni (44 off 44)* and Silivia Kijiana (15 off 12)* closed it out with 16 balls to spare. Fiji bank early points and, more importantly, a chasing template for the week.
Brief scores:
Cook Islands 114/6 (Sullivan 21; Waqavakatoga 2/10)
Fiji 115/1 in 17.2 overs (Vuni 44*, Lomani 43)
Result: Fiji won by 9 wickets.
Player Of The Match: Sulia Vuni.
Match 2 — Papua New Guinea Women beat Japan Women by 45 runs (Albert Park 2)
PNG produced the most complete batting performance of the morning on a slightly quicker track. Konio Oala (50 off 39, 5×4, 3×6) took on length and anything too straight, repeatedly piercing midwicket and extra-cover. Naoani Vare (43 off 50) was the foil—occupying crease time, rotating deep cover, and preserving wickets.
At 115/3 after 18, PNG risked leaving runs out there—until Hollan Doriga unleashed: 16* off 6 balls, including three scorching boundaries that vaulted the total to 139/4—a par-plus score given the morning’s grip.
Japan’s reply began steadily, but a ruthless middle-overs squeeze turned the match. Isabel Toua (3/8 off 3.5) bowled stump-to-stump with subtle wobble, while Geua Tom (2/23) struck around the batters’ pads. Haruna Iwasaki (31 off 17) countered with the innings’ best strike rate, but when she holed out the chase unraveled. Three wickets between overs 8 and 10 killed momentum; Japan were bowled out for 94.
Brief scores:
PNG 139/4 (Oala 50, Vare 43; Kato 2/16)
Japan 94 (Iwasaki 31; Toua 3/8, G. Tom 2/23)
Result: PNG won by 45 runs.
Player of the Match: Konio Oala.
Match 3 — Vanuatu Women beat Indonesia Women by 7 runs (Albert Park 1)
A captain’s day out. Rachel Andrew read the surface perfectly, compiling a match-defining 85 off 71*. She batted through, accelerating in pockets—square on the off side when the ball softened, then through midwicket when pace-on returned. Partner Nasimana Navaika (30 off 47) played the classic support role in a 115-run stand that carried Vanuatu to 131/2, a total that looked tidy rather than towering.
Indonesia’s chase was alive deep into the 18th over. Maria Corazon (42) and Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini (18) kept the rate manageable, with extras offering lifelines. But Andrew wasn’t finished: taking the ball at the death, she produced a 3/10 masterclass—fuller lengths at the stumps, no width, and nerve. Navaika’s burst up front (3/27) had already forced Indonesia to rebuild; Andrew’s closing spell ended their late dash at 124/8.
Brief scores:
Vanuatu 131/2 (Andrew 85*; Paramitha 1/14)
Indonesia 124/8 (Corazon 42; Andrew 3/10, Navaika 3/27)
Result: Vanuatu won by 7 runs.
Player of the Match: Rachel Andrew.
Match 4 — Samoa Women beat Philippines Women by 9 wickets (Albert Park 2)
This was relentless, high-discipline bowling. Samoa used seam and seam-up variations to crush the Philippines for 42. Taalili Iosefo (4–2–5–3) was unplayable at times—hitting a heavy length that jagged both ways—while captain Regina Lili’i (3/3) and Tuaoloa Semau (3–2–1–1) piled on dots from the other end. A brief cameo from Karri Keen (15 off 10) was the only resistance before a flurry of wickets across overs 12–17.
The chase was brisk and fuss-free. Faaiuga Pouta (15) gave Samoa a head start; Angel Sootaga (16 off 12)* closed the door in 6.2 overs. On an adjacent square that rewarded straight lines, Samoa set an early tournament benchmark for Powerplay bowling.
Brief scores:
Philippines 42 (Keen 15; Iosefo 3/5, Lili’i 3/3)
Samoa 43/1 in 6.2 overs (Sootaga 16*)
Result: Samoa won by 9 wickets.
Player of the Match: Taalili Iosefo.
Victoria Hamilton