Cook Islands Cricket men’s team made a brilliant start to the ICC East Asia Pacific Sub Regional Qualifier A tournament in Apia, Samoa, yesterday.

The Craig Murray-coached side recorded a historic nine wicket win against Vanuatu in the opening match of the tournament.

Vanuatu, the highest-ranked team at the competition, batted first and scored 180 for 5 in their 20 overs.

In reply, Cook Islands scored 186 for 1 in 19.1 overs.

Cook Islander Hayden Dickson got the man of the match award for his 112 not out in 57 balls.

Dickson hit 10 fours and seven sixes in his innings. He was well supported by Thomas Parima 32 (22) and captain Ma’ara Ave 36 (32).

“It is a historic day for Cook Islands Cricket and a great start to the tournament,” team manager Rahul Patil said.

In the other match, host Samoa thumped Fiji by nine wickets.

Cook Islands will play Samoa tomorrow before taking on Fiji in their final match.

The winner of this tournament will join the EAP Sub Regional B winner, four Asian Sub Regional Qualifiers, as well as Nepal, Oman and Papua New Guinea.

Three of those nine teams will advance to the 2026 T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka.

Four Rarotonga based players, Tim (Teaomua) Anker, Pita Ravarua, Tiaki Wuatai and Tomakanute Ritawa, joined the remaining members of the national team based in New Zealand. The NZ-based players are: Ma’ara Ave (Captain), Liam Denny, Cory Dickson, Hayden Dickson, Milton Kavana (vice-captain), Aue Parima, Thomas Parima, Andrew Samuels, Oscar Taylor and Jared Tutty.

The six-match event will be streamed live on icc.tv.