Our Women Win Second Over Visitors
The national women’s cricket team won their second match against the touring Cricket without Borders team from Melbourne, Australia by 11 wickets at Albert Park yesterday.
The national side is preparing for the inaugural Pacific Cup in Port Villa, Vanuatu next month.
CWB founder Claire Cannon said this was their second visit to Fiji. They first came in 2015.
Apart from playing the multicultural women’s team also facilitated school clinics at Gospel Primary School and Latter Day Saints Primary School.
“We have a great relationship with Cricket Fiji and work closely with the International Cricket Council East Asia Pacific based in Melbourne,” Cannon said.
“ICC East Asia Pacific suggested Fiji because they really put in place this fantastic plan and got some great games ahead,” Cannon said.
“We’re here to develop the game in Fiji, not just with the national teams but also in schools.
“Cricket is a great game for girls and it’s great to play it in Fiji.”
Most of their members are girls are daughters of farmers in Victoria. Their passion for cricket has taken them over the world that in the past 11 years they have travelled to England, Singapore, Darwin, Japan, Hong Kong, Vanuatu and Fiji.
“These girls are not sponsored by Cricket Australia, pretty much paid their own way here,” she said.
“My son had gone to a cricket tour to England, he had the most extraordinary time playing in schools, country teams and there was no opportunity for girls so Ken Jacobs, former chief executive officer for Cricket Victoria and I founded the team and decided to take a tour to England.
“For ICC-East Asia Pacific you can’t play in the World Cup for men’s if you don’t have a women’s team.
It’s a great time for young women in Fiji to be in cricket because there are so many opportunities.”
Story By: Sereana Salalo
Feedback: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj
