The final day of the inaugural PacificAus Women’s Cricket Invitational opened with a commanding performance by the Australian Indigenous Women’s team, who defeated Vanuatu Women by six wickets in the first of two matches at 10 AM today at the Amini Park, Port Moresby.
Batting first, Vanuatu posted 94/8, with Australian bowlers Ella Hayward (3/17), Grace Abdy (2/12) and Callee Black (2/19) applying consistent pressure.
Captain Christina Coulson led the chase with a composed 56* off 54 balls, sealing victory in 18.4 overs.
“It’s not often we come together to play, as the girls come from all parts of Australia.”
“It was awesome playing with the younger players.”
“It doesn’t matter who we come up against, we always have to put in our best.”
The win marked the end of a flawless campaign for the Australian side, who finished the tournament undefeated.
Meanwhile, Head Coach Alex Stewart, in his first coaching role, added that it has been fantastic, especially taking on teams like PNG, Samoa and Vanuatu.
“It’s been a really good experience for the girls to grow.”
Vanuatu Coach Joshua Rasu also acknowledged the value of the experience despite the loss.
“The lessons we’ve learned have really shown us where we are. It gives us a clear picture of how to train better and come back stronger.”
This game led into the second final-day match, wrapping up a week-long celebration of women’s cricket in the Pacific, highlighting regional unity, cultural exchange and the rising strength of women’s sport.