Vanuatu secured their promotion to WCL Division Six yesterday after beating Nigeria at the Lobatse Cricket Ground.

Batting first after Nigeria won the toss, Vanuatu put on 41 for the first wicket before Trevor Langa was dismissed for 23. Nigeria briefly took control of the game with two more wickets soon after to have their opponents on 61-3, but Vanuatu swung the game back their way with a 100 partnership for the fourth wicket between captain Andrew Mansale and Nalin Nipiko.

Nipiko was dismissed for 57, whilst Mansale stayed in until the end of the innings, also scoring 57. Vanuatu's total was 238-4. Nigeria lost wickets regularly in reply, and were restricted to 164-9 from their 50 overs to lose by 74 runs.

Over at the BCA Oval in Gaborone, Germany and hosts Botswana played out the game of the day. Germany batted first after winning the toss and were bowled out for 211. Milano Fernando top scored with 55, with Asif Khan also contributing with 45. The score could have been more had Germany not collapsed from 181-4.

In reply, Faisal Rasheed scored 96 for Botswana, but no other batsman could stay with him, and when he was dismissed in the 40th over, Botswana were 167-8. The match went right down to the wire, and the scores were level from the final ball. But Ameer Saiyed was unable to avoid the fielders and was caught from the last ball to leave the match tied.

Next door at the BCA Oval second ground, Fiji batted first and the opening pair of Josefa Rika and Sevunivola Baba put on 58 before Baba was out for 21. Rika and number three Jikoi Kida then put on 130 for the second wicket.

Rika was dismissed for 76, whilst Kida followed two balls later having scored 69. These were the first two wickets in a collapse that saw Fiji get bowled out for 223. Kofi Bagabena was the pick of the bowlers with 5-25.

In reply, Ghana were bowled out for 205 to lose by 18 runs. Obed Harvey and Simon Ateak were the only batsman to get a start with 48 and 43 respectively.

Today is a rest day in Botswana, and the final round of matches will be played on Friday, after which we will know who will join Vanuatu in Division Six in Jersey later this year. Hosts Botswana will play Fiji, Germany will play Nigeria and Ghana will play Vanuatu.