Australia Indigenous batting against Vanuatu. Photo: Vanuatu Daily Post / Anasilini Natoga
Australian indigenous cricket men's team wins over Vanuatu
The Australian National Indigenous Cricket Team defeated Vanuatu in the first of their four-game series at the Korman Cricket Field in Port Vila on Saturday.
According to the anuatu Daily Post, the rain did not ruin the competitive spirit of both teams as the Australian beat Vanuatu by 126 - 91.
Tyran Lidard and captain Damon Egan scored the most runs for the visitors, scoring 57 and 51 runs respectively.
Australia took up the bats first and hit a total of 174 runs in the full 20 overs with five of their players being taken out by Vanuatu's Nalin Nipiko, William Nalisa, and Joshua Rasu.
However, due to the Duckworth Lewis Stern [DSL] method Australia's Indigenous total was brought down to 126 as a target for Vanuatu to chase, as it was getting late and Vanuatu was only going to play 13 overs.
Vanuatu showed a lot of determination and almost met their target with Nipiko, Ronald Tari, and Jared Allen hitting 43,29 and 18 runs respectively.
However, the boys in yellow displayed great bowling and fielding to contain the home side as Dylan McLachlan, and Bailey Toseland and Brynley Richards managed to get a total of eight Vanuatu players out by the 13th[final] over.
Vanuatu player Jamal Vira said he is proud to represent his country against some quality opposition of such high calibre.
Australia Broadcast Rights for Sol2023 Pacific Games announced
The 2023 Pacific Games Organizing Committee (GOC) has revealed that the Special Broadcasting Service Corporation (SBS) has acquired exclusive Australian broadcast rights for the Sol2023 Pacific Games.
SBS and sister channel NITV (National Indigenous Television) will cover the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and a broad range of events throughout the two weeks of the 2023 Pacific Games, live and free to air, as well via streaming platform, SBS On Demand.
"The Pacific Games is the most significant sports event on the Oceania calendar, bringing together athletes from all the Island nations," SBS director of sport Ken Shipp said on the GOC website.
"SBS is really pleased to be able to showcase this incredible event to Australian audiences. It is a sports and cultural celebration like no other and a great addition to the growing catalogue of under-represented sports which SBS is proud to support."
Shipp said that SBS' comprehensive broadcasting plans will be announced in the coming months.
As the Host Broadcaster, Sol2023 will cover all 24 sports and produce a daily program of 8-10 hours of coverage, available to SBS and other rights holders across the Pacific.
Moana Pasifika has improved - Coach
Moana Pasifika coach Aaron Mauger says his side are playing better rugby this year than last despite not managing a win in 10 Super Rugby Pacific matches in 2023.
Mauger and his team believed they were on the brink of a famous victory over the Blues at Eden Park last night when leading by six points with the fulltime siren having sounded, but a penalty try awarded to the home side due to a collapsed scrum with two Moana forwards in the bin put paid to that.
It meant Moana Pasifika, beaten by the barest of margins 31-30, could not replicate the Fijian Drua's triumph over the Hurricanes in Suva earlier when the home side got up 27-24 over the shell-shocked visitors.
Last year, in their first season, Moana Pasifika won two matches, including a sensational victory at Mt Smart Stadium over the Hurricanes, but they have failed to get across the line this year - not that they are playing poorly, Mauger said.
"We're playing better rugby hands down this year," he said.
"Just because we haven't got results doesn't mean we're not improving. You can see in the performance we're not far off. We've had five or six of those games we're in with a chance to win," the former All Blacks said.
Four Pasifika players named in World XV side
Four Pasifika players have been named in a star-studded backline for a World XV who'll be taking on the world-famous Barbarians invitation in Twickenham, England this month.
Tonga's Ikale Tahi squad members Israel Folau and Charles Piutau will be joined by Fijians, Wallaby winger Marika Koroibete and Flying Fijians centre Semi Radradra.
They have been named by former World Cup-winning All Blacks coach Sir Steve Hansen.
Koroibete won the John Eales Medal for the second time last month and Jones will get a close look at how a coach of Hansen's standing plans to go about neutralising one of his key weapons.
The May 28 fixture will see Barbarians coach Eddie Jones also using Tonga's Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau.