The second game of this years Isuzu Cup was another low scoring affair as Yellow took on Red at Amini Park under clear skies. After tasting defeat in Game one Isuzu Yellow were keen to bounce back while Red were making their first appearance in this years event.
Kipling Doriga won the toss and elected to bat with Yellow opening with two youngsters in Mavara Hekure & Hoge Henao. Unfortunately both were picked up early by Reds opening bowler Kabua Vagi. The batting was tough with Doriga and Jason Kila struggling and dismissed early as well as Kieth Griffin Yellow were in trouble at 5/36. Norman Vanua (20) and Sese Bau settled in to mount a recovery putting on a 48 run partnership before Vanua became Daure Lohia’s 4th victim of the innings. Riley Hekure (32) came to the crease and with Bau put on another 38 runs before Bau was dismissed for 62, the Yellow eventually bowled out for 151 in the 41st over.
Daure Lohia from Kilakila Cricket Club in the POMCA was the star with the ball talking 4/34 of his eight overs with Kabua Vagi and Hiri Hiri picking up two wickets each in support.
Isuzu Red opened their innings with Barramundi Blaster Tony Ura and Tanti Heni from the United Club, Heni was out early and was then followed by a procession of low scores by his fellow batsmen as the bowlers dominated. Ura was on fire belting 62 of 30 balls including 54 of those runs coming of boundaries, but after he was dismissed by Sese Bau with the score at 3/83 the bowlers ran through the rest of the line up.
The two Barra spinners in Bau and Jason Kila did the damage, as they did in game one, taking 3 wickets each, 3/16 and 3/11 respectively. Young Sema Kamea grabbed two wickets as did Norman Vanua with Red being routed for 120 in the 18th over.
Although Tony Ura played an outstanding innings for Isuzu Red it was Sese Bau who was awarded player of the match with a fine innings himself of 62 and also taking 3 for 16 off his 3 overs including the prize wicket of Ura.
Tournament director Rodney Maha commenting on game two said “ the bowlers have definitely dominated in the opening rounds even though Tony Ura got the better of them today. I think as the tournament progresses we will see that trend reverse as the batsmen regain form after a long period without much play in the middle”