Samoa women's national cricket team

Last updated

Samoa
Samoacr.gif
Cricket Samoa logo
Nickname(s)Nafanua
Association Samoa International Cricket Association
Personnel
CaptainKolotita Nonu
Coach Gary Wood
International Cricket Council
ICC status Associate member [1] (2017)
Affiliate member (2000)
ICC region East Asia-Pacific
ICC RankingsCurrent [2] Best-ever
T20I 49th 16th (2 Oct 2020) [3]
International cricket
First internationalv. Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji at Apia; 2 February 2010
T20 Internationals
First T20Iv. Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji at Independence Park, Port Vila; 6 May 2019
Last T20Iv. Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea at Amini Park, Port Moresby; 21 June 2025
T20IsPlayedWon/Lost
Total [4] 42 20/20
(0 ties, 2 no results)
This year [5] 8 3/4
(0 ties, 1 no result)
As of 21 June 2025

The Samoa women's national cricket team, nicknamed the Nafanua, represents the country of Samoa in international women's cricket. It is organised by the game's governing body in the country, the Samoa International Cricket Association (SICA).

Contents

Although women's cricket has a long history in Samoa, the national team was only formally organised in 2010, with assistance from a New Zealand association, Auckland Cricket. [6] The team has often included Samoan expatriate players based in Australia and New Zealand (including some who have played for state or provincial teams), which has presented difficulties in training. [7] Samoa's first regional tournament came later in 2010, and it has since regularly participated in ICC East Asia-Pacific events, generally ranking behind only Japan and Papua New Guinea in the region. The women's team's most notable achievement has been winning the gold medal in the women's tournament at the 2015 Pacific Games. The team is currently coached by Ian West, an Englishman who gained Samoan citizenship through his wife, and subsequently played for the Samoan men's team. [8]

In April 2018, the International Cricket Council (ICC) granted full Women's Twenty20 International (WT20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Samoa women and another international side since 1 July 2018 have the full WT20I status. [9]

History

Cricket has been played in Samoa since the 19th century, when it was introduced by British traders and missionaries. It flourished despite a ban during the period of the German protectorate, from 1900 to 1914. Historically, the sport has been most popular when played under the modified rules known as kilikiti . However, since the early 2000s, when Samoa gained affiliate membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its men's national team debuted internationally (in 2000 and 2001, respectively), the standard form of cricket has begun to replace kilikiti in popularity. [10]

The Samoan women's team played its first international matches in February 2010, when Fiji toured to play a three-match series at Apia's Faleata Oval (in the Tuanaimato area). [11] Fiji were also playing their first internationals. [12] A major impetus for the establishment of a woman's team was its status as a requirement for associate membership of the ICC, to which SICA aspires. [10] Samoa, captained by Perelini Mulitalo, went on to win the series 3–0, [13] and consequently qualified as the third team (after Japan and Papua New Guinea) for the 2010 EAP Trophy in Japan, the team's first major tournament. [14]

Samoa went on to lose all three of its matches at the EAP Trophy, a 50-over tournament, with their closest game being a 12-run loss to Japan in the qualifying final. [15] Their captain there was Mindy Hodgson, a former representative of the Wellington Blaze in New Zealand domestic cricket. [16] However, the Samoans were more successful at their next regional tournament, the 2012 EAP Women's Championship in Port Vila, Vanuatu. That tournament was played using the Twenty20 format, with the winner progressing to the 2013 World Twenty20 Qualifier in Ireland). [17] The three teams from the 2010 tournament were joined by the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Vanuatu. Samoa won all of its group-stage matches (played only against the three newcomers), [18] but lost in the semi-final against Papua New Guinea, eventually placing third after defeating Vanuatu in the third-place playoff. [19]

At the 2014 EAP Women's Championship in Japan (a qualifier for the 2015 World Twenty20 Qualifier), Samoa again placed third after losing a semi-final to Papua New Guinea, with their opponent in the third-place playoff being the Cook Islands. The team's tournament was marked by several instances of individual brilliance, most notably an innings of 104 (off 74 balls) by Moelagi Tuilagi in the playoff, the first century in an EAP Twenty20 event. [20] Samoa's captain, Auckland Hearts player Regina Lili'i, was named both player of the tournament and captain of the team of the tournament. [21] Lili'i was one of three Samoan players with experience in the New Zealand State League, the others being Hana Mauafu (Canterbury Magicians) and Madeleine Chapman (Wellington Blaze). [22] As of May 2015, one unofficial ranking system placed Samoa 27th in the world, behind Kenya. [23] In July 2015, Samoa won the gold medal in the women's tournament at the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby, becoming the first country outside of Papua New Guinea to win gold in Pacific Games cricket. [24]

In December 2020, the ICC announced the qualification pathway for the 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup. [25] Samoa were named in the 2021 ICC Women's T20 World Cup EAP Qualifier regional group, alongside seven other teams. [26]

Tournament history

ICC Women's ODI World Cup

Women's Cricket World Cup records
Host
Year
RoundPositionGPWLTNR
Flag of England.svg 1973 Did not qualify/No Women's ODI status
Flag of India.svg 1978
Flag of New Zealand.svg 1982
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1988
Flag of England.svg 1993
Flag of India.svg 1997
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2000
Flag of South Africa.svg 2005
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2009
Flag of India.svg 2013
Flag of England.svg 2017
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2022
Flag of India.svg 2025
Total0/130 Titles00000

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier records
Host
Year
RoundPositionGPWLTNR
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 2003 Did not qualify/No ODI status
Flag of South Africa.svg 2008
Flag of Bangladesh.svg 2011
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg 2017
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg 2021
Flag of Pakistan.svg 2025
Total0/60 Title00000

ICC Women's World T20

Twenty20 World Cup records
Host
Year
RoundPositionGPWLTNR
Flag of England.svg 2009 Did not qualify
WestIndiesCricketFlagPre1999.svg 2010
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg 2012
Flag of Bangladesh.svg 2014
Flag of India.svg 2016
WestIndiesCricketFlagPre1999.svg 2018
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2020
Flag of South Africa.svg 2023
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 2024
Flag of England.svg 2026 To be determined
Total0/90 Titles00000

ICC Women's Twenty20 Global Qualifier

ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier records
Host
Year
RoundPositionGPWLTNR
Flag of Ireland.svg 2013 Did not qualify
Flag of Thailand.svg 2015
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 2018
Flag of Scotland.svg 2019
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 2022
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 2024
Flag of Nepal.svg 2026
Total0/70 Titles00000

Cricket at Summer Olympics Games

Cricket at Summer Olympics records
Host
Year
RoundPositionGPWLTNR
Flag of the United States.svg 2028 To be determined
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2032
Total0 Title00000

ICC Women's T20 Champions Trophy

ICC Women's T20 Champions Trophy records
Host
Year
RoundPositionGPWLTNR
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg 2027 To be determined
Flag.svg 2031
Total0 Title00000

EAP Women's Championship

EAP Women's Championship records
Host/YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR
Flag of Japan.svg 2010 [27] Round-robin3/3The full information of the tournament have not found
Flag of Vanuatu.svg 2010 [28] Round-robin3/6The full information of the tournament have not found
Flag of Japan.svg 2014 [29] Round-robin3/5The full information of the tournament have not found
Flag of Samoa.svg 2016Round-robin2/3The full information of the tournament have not found
Total4/40 Titles00000

Cricket at the Pacific Games

Pacific Games record
YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg 2015 Champion1/666000
Flag of Samoa.svg 2019 Champion1/476100
Total2/22 Titles1312100

ICC Women's Twenty20 World Cup Qualifier

ICC Women's Twenty20 World Cup Qualifier East Asia Pacific records
YearRoundPositionGPWLTNR
Flag of Vanuatu.svg 2019 Runners-up2/654100
Flag of Samoa.svg 2021 The tournament had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Flag of Vanuatu.svg 2023 Round-robin5/761500
Flag of Fiji.svg 2025 To be determined
Total2/20 Titles115600

Current squad

Updated on 12 January 2024.

This lists all the players who have played for Samoa in the past 12 months or were part of the most recent squad.

NameAgeBatting styleBowling styleNotes
Batters
Fa'aiuga Sisifo22Right-handedRight-arm medium
Leitu Leong22Right-handed
Regina Lili'i 38Right-handedRight-arm medium Captain
All-rounders
Jacinta Sanele20Right-handedRight-arm medium
Taalili Iosefo20Right-handedRight-arm medium
Tuaoloa Semau44Right-handedRight-arm medium
Lagi Telea28Right-handedRight-arm medium
Ailaoa Aoina20Left-handedLeft-arm medium
Eleni Vaaetasi28Right-handedRight-arm medium
Aunoa Iopu22Right-handedRight-arm off break
Carol AgafiliRight-handedRight-arm medium
Wicketkeepers
Ruth Johnston25Right-handed-
Francesca Nafanua-
Bowlers
Ariota Kupito22Right-handedRight-arm medium-fast
Vicky Tafea21Right-handedRight-arm medium

Records and statistics

International Match Summary — Samoa Women [30]

Last updated 21 June 2025

Playing Record
FormatMWLTNRInaugural Match
Twenty20 Internationals422020026 May 2019

Twenty20 International

T20I record versus other nations [30]

Records complete to WT20I #2377. Last updated 21 June 2025.

OpponentMWLTNRFirst matchFirst win
ICC Associate members
Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 220007 September 20237 September 2023
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 1072016 May 20196 May 2019
Flag of France.svg  France 1100012 March 202512 March 2025
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 211007 May 20197 May 2019
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 211007 May 20197 May 2019
Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 122100010 May 201911 July 2019
Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 1366019 May 20199 May 2019

See also

References

  1. "Ireland and Afghanistan ICC newest full members amid wide-ranging governance reform". International Cricket Council . 22 June 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  2. "ICC Rankings". International Cricket Council.
  3. "Australia Women remain No.1 in ODIs, T20Is after annual update". ICC. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  4. "WT20I matches - Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
  5. "WT20I matches - 2025 Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
  6. (15 March 2012). "Samoan women preparing for big challenge" – Auckland Cricket. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  7. (23 April 2014). "Samoa target top two finish in Japan" – ICC East Asia-Pacific. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  8. Lauren Priestley (30 January 2013). "Developing Samoan cricket"East & Bays Courier. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  9. "All T20I matches to get international status". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  10. 1 2 Andy Bull (27 January 2010). "Cricket in Samoa: It's just not kilikiti" The Guardian . Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  11. Other women's matches played by Samoa Women Archived 30 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 June.
  12. (15 January 2010). "National Women's Team Selected For Samoa Challenge Series" – Cricket Fiji. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  13. (6 February 2010). "Samoa clinch women's series 3-0" – ICC East Asia-Pacific. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  14. (5 February 2010). "Samoa win series with 2-0 lead in Women’s Challenge" – Oceania Sport Information Centre. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  15. Japan Women v Samoa Women, Women's East Asia-Pacific Trophy 2010 (Qualifying Final) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  16. Mindy Hodgson – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  17. (30 April 2012). "Squads Named For Women's ICC EAP T20 Championship" – Cricket World. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  18. ICC East Asia-Pacific Women's Championship 2012 table – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  19. ICC East Asia-Pacific Women's Championship 2012 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  20. (12 May 2014). "Sport: PNG Lewas win EAP Women's Trophy" – Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  21. (13 May 2014). "Sport: Samoa captain Lili'I named player of tournament" – Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  22. (13 March 2014). "Samoan women head to Japan for qualifying" – Auckland Cricket. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  23. Shane Booth. Women's One Day International Ratings – Shane's Cricket Ratings. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  24. (27 June 2015). "Fiji, Samoa ready for games challenge"The Fiji Times. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  25. "Qualification for ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 announced". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  26. "ICC announce qualification process for 2023 Women's T20 World Cup". The Cricketer. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  27. Women's East Asia-Pacific Trophy 2010 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 June.
  28. ICC East Asia-Pacific Women's Championship 2012 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 June.
  29. ICC East Asia-Pacific Women's Championship 2014 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 June.
  30. 1 2 "Records / Samoa Women / Twenty20 Internationals / Result summary". ESPNcricinfo.
  31. "Records / Samoa Women / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / Highest totals". ESPN Cricinfo.
  32. "Records / Samoa Women / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / High Scores". ESPN Cricinfo.
  33. "Records / Samoa Women / Women's Twenty20 Internationals / Best Bowling figures". ESPN Cricinfo.
  34. "Records / Samoa Women / Twenty20 Internationals / Most runs". ESPNcricinfo.
  35. "Records / Samoa Women / Twenty20 Internationals / Most wickets". ESPNcricinfo.