Moce Secondary School showcased remarkable skill and determination in the Fiji Secondary Schools Cricket competition, securing a victory against Cicia High School by 47 runs in their opening match held at Albert Park in Suva yesterday.
Batting first, Moce Secondary scored 127 runs in 18.2 overs. In response, Cicia struggled to reach the target, managing only 80 runs in 15.3 overs, as Moce maintained their composure despite the intense heat.
Manager Teni Davui highlighted the team’s resourcefulness, stating, “We are not that well equipped, but we managed to take over this afternoon. Back in the village, we use plastic bats, some use sticks, and a baseball for training on the island.” She noted that many players were participating in a competition for the first time, which led to some initial nerves that were eventually overcome.
Out of the 56 students enrolled at Moce Secondary, 14 are part of the cricket team, with players ranging from Year 9 to Year 13. The team arrived in Suva last Thursday and were initially apprehensive about facing stronger schools.
“Our achievement was unbelievable because back home we heard we would be up against better teams in cricket. However, we believed in God, and we succeeded in round one against Cicia High School,” Davui added.
Looking ahead, the team is set to compete against the Cricket Fiji Invitational team today at 9 AM on pitch one at Albert Park.
In other matches, Ratu Finau triumphed over Ba Provincial Freebird Institute by 103 runs, the CF Invitational team defeated Nabua Secondary School by seven wickets, while John Wesley and Suva Grammar played to a draw, both scoring 115 runs.