The national side played Japan last night and will face Indonesia on Saturday and regional giants Samoa on Sunday (Cook Islands times). With two wins from three matches (including group play), the Cook Islands must win all remaining matches to stay in contention for qualification.

Against Vanuatu, the Cook Islands won the toss and elected to bat first due to forecasted light rain.

Vice-captain and Man of the Match, Hayden Dickson, smashed 55 runs from 31 balls, stabilising the innings after two early wickets.

He formed a formidable partnership with Aue Parima, who scored 64 runs from 45 balls, while youngster Luca Grace added 24 from 21. The national team set an ambitious target of 163 for seven in 20 overs.

Rain arrived during the final over, putting the Cook Islands’ superb batting performance at risk.

After the weather cleared, Vanuatu’s target was reduced to 81 runs from eight overs via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.

Vanuatu started well, maintaining the required run rate until Quin Stephens took two wickets in the third over.

While Vanuatu briefly recovered, Jared Tutty claimed two wickets in the fifth –including a golden duck – to stall their momentum.

After a fifth wicket fell to a run-out following an excellent throw by Dickson, Vanuatu finished their eight overs at 69/5, handing the Cook Islands an 11-run victory.

Commenting on the Vanuatu win, Cook Islands Cricket Association president Grant Walker said it was their first game played in Sano on the grass wicket.

“We had our first two in Nagoya on a hybrid, so clearly there was going to be an adjustment from our batters,” Walker explained. “… what we’ve seen from the earlier games played in Sano, it looked like it was going to be a relatively low scoring surface.”

Walker said Vanuatu offered stiff competition especially with their impressive spin bowling lineup.

With light rain in the forecast, he said captain Ma’ara Ave won the toss and elected to bat first.

“Things looked a little tricky when we lost Thomas Parima and Maara both to Tim Cutler (Vanuatu), the left arm spinner,” Walker said. “However, Hayden Dickson and Aue Parima proceeded to put on a brilliant partnership which carried the team deep into our overs, and despite the loss of some late wickets as we squeezed out additional runs, we were able to set an impressive 163 run total.”

Walker said between innings, the covers came out as rain had arrived in Cook Islands’ final overs “and for a while it looked like all the brilliant efforts of our batsmen were in vain and the draw/no result was a possibility”.

“Thankfully, the rains let up and the umpires made the decision to continue play with Vanuatu getting eight overs to match a reduced target of 81 runs – a bull attack was limited to two overs per bowler.

“Hayden and Jared Tutty both had brilliant opening spells increasing the run rate pressure on Vanuatu and its captain Joshua Rasu. Then in a burst of power Rasu blasted three sixes off Oscar Taylor in a big 21 run over and the game was on a knife edge.”

Walker said Quin Stephens dismissing Rasu as well as claiming the second wicket in his over put the Kukis back in the lead.

“With the run rate creeping ever higher Jared Tutty in the pen ultimate over took two wickets and set the stage for Hayden Dickson to take the ball in the 20th over where he sealed the game with an incredible backflip run out which made the highlight reels across the cricketing world.”

Walker said the team will take each game as it comes.

“We’re not looking to get in front of ourselves, but hopefully we can find a way to win today (last night) and keep ourselves in the hunt.”