Fiji qualify for first U-19 World Cup

Fiji have qualified for their first World Cup at any level - the 2016 Under-19 event in Bangladesh - after finishing unbeaten during the group stage of the East Asia-Pacific U-19 Trophy in Blenheim, New Zealand.

Fiji, under the charge of former Bangladesh coach Shane Jurgensen, secured top spot with a nine-wicket victory against Samoa who were dismissed for 92. Sosiceni Weileilakeba claimed 4 for 17 to earn the Player of the Match award.

"This is the first time a team from Fiji cricket has made a World Cup so I am very proud of that achievement and my players," said Fiji captain Saimoni Tuitoga.

Jurgensen was delighted that the team's hard work had paid off. "The way that we won today was exactly the way we wanted to win," he said. "I wanted them to prove to the region and to themselves that they deserve to be in the World Cup and I couldn't be more proud of the way they went about it."

Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, who finished second and third after PNG won by 125 runs, will face each other again on Saturday with the winners moving into the U-19 World Cup qualifiers for a second chance at joining the main event.