Wanderers v Vanuatu
10 September 2019
Norm McMahon Oval
Norm McMahon Oval played host to Wanderers’ clash with the Vanuatu squad seeking promotion from Division Three of the world group in an upcoming tournament in Malaysia.
Vanuatu batted first and immediately showed intent. Both openers played their shots and pushed the score to 30 from the first 5 overs. Three quick wickets did nothing to restrict the scoring as skipper, Patrick Matautaava, and Andrew Mansale blasted 69 from just 38 balls for the 4th wicket. Mansale then teamed with Ronald Tari for a better-than-a-run-a-ball, 52 run 5th wicket partnership.
When Luke Feldman removed Mansale, a mini collapse followed and the brakes were finally applied to the scoring rate. A previously-likely 300+ score was now pared back. Simpson Obed and Stephen Apolinaire provided some late-order fireworks with a 54 run 9th wicket partnership to boost Vanuatu to a formidable 255 from 41.4 of a maximum 45 overs.
The chase began encouragingly for Wanderers as Narracott and Neill and then Roudenko piled on 58 from just 8 overs, but from there, it was all Vanuatu as wickets tumbled. Paddy Cotter and Corey Lucas dragged the score up from 7/73 to 121 before Paddy fell, then Corey and Kyle Coleman added another 34 for the 9th, but there were no Stokes-like heroics for Wanderers falling 97 runs short.
Well done to Clint McKay’s Vanuatu lads in a very impressive all-round performance.
