Samoa have qualified for the combined Asia/East Asia Pacific qualifying final for next year's men's T20 World Cup after results went their way on the final day of the first EAP sub-regional qualifier.

The day started with Fiji doing Samoa a favour by beating the Cook Islands. Batting first they scored 135-9, captain Peni Vuniwaqa top scoring with 45 from 28 balls. Contributions also came from Kau Qalo (26) and Peni Kotoisuva (28 not out) whilst the pick of the bowlers was Cory Dickson with 3-21.

The in-form Hayden Dickson was run out early in the Cook Islands run chase, one of three wickets to fall in the fourth over. Aue Parima scored 57 from 39 balls to help keep the run chase alive, and heading into the last two overs, the Cook Islands needed 15 with two wickets to spare.

Peni Vuniwaqa bowled the 19th over and conceded five runs, with a run out also occuring as the Cooks looked to secure victory. Joeli Moala - who had taken 3-21 in his previous three overs - was chosen to bowl the last over and in a fantastic display of death bowling conceded no runs, securing a nine run win for his team.

That defeat took the Cook Islands net run rate into the red, meaning that any win for Samoa over Vanuatu would be sufficient to reach the next stage of qualifying. Samoa won the toss and chose to bat first, scoring 145-8 from their 20 overs. Sean Cotter was their top scorer with 51.

Knocks of 31 from Clement Tommy and 39 from Ala Viraliliu kept Vanuatu in the hunt even as they lost wickets. Heading into the final over, they needed 13 runs with three wickets in hand. Saumani Tai bowled the final over and after conceding three singles from the first three balls, took two wickets in two balls. A single from the last meant that Samoa had won by nine runs.

Samoa celebrate with the home fans (Samoa International Cricket Association)

Samoa will now play in the combined Asia/EAP final at a venue and date still to be confirmed, from which three teams will qualify for the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup. Nine teams are set to take part in that event and Samoa join Nepal, Oman and Papua New Guinea as the confirmed teams.

One more team will come from the EAP region with the next sub-regional taking place in South Korea next month featuring Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines in addition to the hosts. Two will come from both Asian sub-regional events. The first of these starts on Friday in Malaysia and will feature the hosts plus Hong Kong, Kuwait, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar and Singapore. The date, venue and teams for the second Asian sub-regional have yet to be announced.