The winning Samoa Under-19 women's cricket team celebrate their qualification for the 2025 ICC Women's Under-19 World Cup. Photo: ICC Photo: ICC
The Samoa Under-19 women's cricket team have created history by qualifying for the 2025 ICC Women's Under 19 World Cup.
The Samoans topped the four-team East Asia-Pacific Qualifier in Bali, which ended on Monday.
It's the first time a Samoan team has qualified for a World Cup in the sport, across any format or age level.
Samoa Cricket said the achievement was one that needs to be celebrated.
"Good job girls. You have made Samoa proud," Samoa Cricket said in a message to the team and management.
"Malo lava to the management and the team for making history for Samoa.
"You will be an inspiration to our young players and the sport in the country.
"Let's celebrate the victory with God."
The ICC reported a win over Fiji on the final day ensured the Samoans finished top of the double round-robin event.
On top of the group heading into the sixth and final matchday in Indonesia, Avetia Fetu Mapu's side ensured their progression thanks to a four-wicket win over Fiji, with 34 balls to spare.
The ICC said the side went into the four-team competition as underdogs, with last year's Women's under-19 T20 World Cup entrants Indonesia, and a Papua New Guinea side boasting multiple senior internationals, seemingly posing a bigger threat.
The Samoans stamped their authority on the competition on the afternoon of the first matchday, despite the pre-tournament talk, chasing down a target of 124 against Papua New Guinea.
They then went on to beat Indonesia in both fixtures against the hosts, winning the first by chasing down 72 with two wickets and two overs to spare, before an eight-run win four days later.
Defending 81 in their second meeting, Samoa bowled out Indonesia for 73, with Silepea Plataivao claiming 6 wickets for 15 runs off 4 overs.
Samoa then fell to Papua New Guinea when they met for the second time in the competition.
But PNG had dropped points against Indonesia earlier in the tournament, meaning a final-day win for Samoa would guarantee top spot and qualification.
Against Fiji in their final match, a hat-trick from Fiji's Mele Waqanisau may have sent nerves through the Samoan camp in their chase of of 89.
But the work of senior Samoan international Angel Sootaga So at the top provided a strong enough platform for the lower order to complete the chase in the 15th over.
The women's under-19 Cricket World Cup is in Malaysia and Thailand in 2025.
In other Pacific cricket, the PNG Barrimundis are playing the men's Twenty20 World Cup next month.
