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Fiji Time: 6:40 AM on Sunday 19 May

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Half century nets Knights a win

Arin Kumar
Tuesday, October 23, 2012

FORMER national rep Joji Bulabalavu scored his second half century of the Cricket Fiji Elite Player League to help his Knights side beat the Bulls by 43 runs over the weekend.

The Lakeba, Lauan at the age of 43 is showing no sign of slowing down as he attempts to regain his spot in the national team.

Cricket Fiji chief executive officer Sonny Henderson said the Courts sponsored league was being used as a trial to select a Fiji team to compete in the East Asia Pacific competition in Auckland, New Zealand next year.

The Mobimedia sponsored Knights won the toss and batted first and scored 207 runs in 46 overs with openers Bulabalavu and Sevu Baba (47) leading the way at Suva's Albert Park.

In reply, the Sportsworld sponsored Bulls fell 43 runs short of the target but national squad member showed his class with 54 runs during his stint at the crease.

In the other match, the HMT Barbarians crushed the Novotel Warriors with a 282-run victory.

Batting first, the Barbarians scored 303 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their 50 overs and in reply, the Warriors were bowled out for 21 runs in just seven overs.

In a statement, Warriors' captain, Joe Rika said he was disappointed with his side but applauded the Barbarians for their efforts.

"Obviously disappointed as a player on how we performed today but it is a massive win for Cricket in Fiji with the way the young Barbarians played," the Cricket Fiji development officer said.

"It's always a positive sign to see the future players working hard and playing good cricket, it would have been good to provide a bit of pressure on them but you can't take away their positive style of cricket today (Saturday)," he said.

In the next round of competition this Saturday, the Warriors will face the Bulls while the Barbarians will take on the Knights at Albert Park in Suva.