Vanuatu won an enthralling final against Ghana at the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 8 on the picturesque Garden Ovals in Samoa by 39 runs.

In other matches Japan defeated Belgium to claim third, Norway defeated Samoa to finish fifth and Suriname won a thriller over Bhutan by three runs to finish seventh.

In the main event, Vanuatu won the toss and elected to bat in the overcast conditions and quickly found themselves on the back foot when Isaac Aboagye dismissed Lenica Natapei caught behind for a duck.

Four balls later Aboagye was in the thick of the action again running out Michael Avok who had been promoted up the order and Vanuatu was 7-2.

Andrew Mansale and Jonathon Dunn came together and pushed a number of singles on their way to a handy 66 run partnership before Mansale was caught off the bowling of Obed Harvey for 22.

Nalin Nipiko then joined Dunn in the middle and the pair lifted the run rate with some impressive stroke play before a light shower forced them from the field just as they began to get on top.

Fortunately for Vanuatu the delay in play didn't alter their momentum as Nipiko and Dunn grew in confidence on their way to a 108 run stand that saw both players bring up half centuries.

A late flurry of wickets that included two more from Aboagye saw Vanuatu lose three for 17.

However the damage had already been done as the Pacific side set Ghana the difficult target of 223 for victory.

Aboagye finished with the impressive figures of 4-39 while for Vanuatu Dunn top scored with 78.

In reply Ghana looked in a hurry to get the match over and done with quickly building their run rate above a run a ball.

Obed Harvey looked in ominous form belting seven boundaries on his way to 33 before a quicker delivery from Vanuatu captain Mansale knocked his off-stump out of the ground.

The fall of Harvey slowed the run rate dramatically for Ghana who despite wickets in hand at 69-2 still needed five runs an over for victory.

In the next nine overs the spin combination of Mansale and Jelany Chilia amazingly conceded only eight runs.

The tight bowling eventually frustrated James Vifah who was caught at deep mid-off by Dunn off the bowling of Chilia leaving Ghana 79-3 off 24 overs.

Soon after Ghana were given a few lives with two dropped catches and a difficult missed stumping before Simpson Obed struck in his first over taking the important wicket of Samson Awiah.

When Obed struck again in his next over Vanuatu sensed the match swinging in their favour with the score 92-5.

However celebrations were put on hold when Aboagye and Moses Anafie smashed 26 from two overs off the previously reliable Mansale and Chilia forcing the Vanuatu captain to throw the ball back to his strike bowler Patrick Matautaava.

The change proved a masterstroke when Matautaava trapped Aboagye in front sending him on his way for an entertaining 31 off just 29 balls.

Ghana continued to pile on runs at a quick rate however when Obed claimed his third wicket the score was 165-8 and Vanuatu had one hand on the trophy.

Then after a final late surge of runs from Kofi Bagabina, Matautaava made the result official with two wickets in five balls and Vanuatu won by 39runs.

"I can't express how I feel right now with what the boys did out there," said an elated Mansale. "We are all just so happy and can't wait to get back to Vanuatu to party."

Harvey top scored for Ghana with 33, while for Vanuatu Matautaava and Obed took three wickets each.

For Ghana despite the loss they still walk away from the event with promotion to division 7.

"I feel disappointed with today because I know we can do better," said Ghana captain Peter Ananya. "But the good thing is we have made Division 7 so have more cricket ahead of us and time to correct our errors."

Japan won the toss and elected to bat against Belgium in the 3rd/4th ranking match and quickly regretted their decision as they slumped to 5-39.

Two wickets each from Faisal Khaliq and Abdul Rehman set up the strong start from the European side determined to reverse their result against Japan from the group stage.

However a brilliant century from Alex Patmore helped his side reach a total of all out for 180 and a match that appeared lost for the Japanese was back in the balance.

Faisal Khaliq was instrumental throughout the innings for Belgium to finish with figures of five for 20.

Belgium was cruising early in the chase thanks to a 56 run opening partnership between Nirvam Shah and Sheraz Sheikh Muhammad. However the pair were dismissed in consecutive overs bringing Japan right back into the match.

From that moment on 16-year-old Japanese leg spinner decided it was his opportunity to announce himself to international cricket world taking a match winning 5-55 as Belgium fell agonizingly short by just 10 runs.

"He (Taniyama) is just such a talented young player," said Japanese captain Tatsuro Chino. "He represents the future of Japanese cricket."

The win secured Japan a respectable third place at the event while Belgium settled for fourth.

"This is a great result for us at this tournament considering we didn't win a match at our last one so we are very happy," said Chino.

Samoa won the toss and sent Norway into bat in the 5th/6th ranking match.

Tiafala Alatasi and Ian West were on target early for the hosts claiming two wickets each to put their side in a commanding position with Norway 48-5.

However a remarkable 146 run partnership between Ali Saleem (89) and Tafseer Ali (79) swung the momentum back strongly in Norway's favour and they went on to post the tournament's highest total of 271-7.

In reply it was an innings to forget for the host nation as they struggled to all out for 137 thanks to another sound performance from Norway whose late tournament form will leave them lamenting their group matches.

Norway shared the wickets around in a great team performance with the pick of the bowlers being Tafseer Ali who took 5-30.

"It's a shame we couldn't start the tournament the way we finished," said Norway captain Muhammad Shahbaz Butt. "I think we just needed a few more practice games prior to the event."

Suriname continued their good late tournament form in the 7th/8th ranking match against Bhutan reaching 139-4 before a rain delay forced them from the ground.

Vishual Singh and Shazam Ramjohn were the key to Suriname's solid start with a 66 run partnership.

When play resumed after the rain delay a half century from Troy Dudnath helped his side surpass 200 before being bowled out for 206 in the 49th over.

For Bhutan Lobzang Yonten and Jigme Singye took three wickets each.

In reply as has become habit for Bhutan their top order collapsed to see them struggling at 40-5. Carlton Baker the destroyer for Suriname taking four for 34.

However in one of the gutsiest performances of the event Bhutan rallied thanks to a 114 run partnership between Suprit Pradhan and Sonam Togbay and an upset looked on the cards.

However in the closest finish of the tournament Suriname hung on by three runs taking the last wicket with five balls to spare.

"Yeah it was a lot closer than we wanted towards the end of the match however we have a lot of young players in our side so there is still improvement to be had," said Suriname half century maker Didnath.

At the conclusion of the last match young Vanuatu all-rounder Nalin Nipiko who yesterday celebrated just his 17th birthday was announced as the Player of the Tournament.

Nipiko finished the tournament with 213 runs at an average of 53.25 and took seven wickets at an average of 20.42.