The annual under 19 tournament this year doubled up as the cricket component of the fifth Fiji Games. The eight teams involved were all competing for the Gold, Silver and Bronze games medals, as well as the Under 19 championship cup, previously held by Labasa.

The tournament was held in Nadi from May 1st to 3rd and the teams played in two pools of four. Following the terrible weather conditions for the Crompton Cup two weeks previously, there was some concern at the possible state of the grounds. However, after several days without rain and some hot sunshine, the grounds were all in excellent condition and the tournament went off without a hitch and with no delays from rain.

In Pool A, Labasa, Ratu Finau school from Lakeba, Tailevu (a composite team from Queen Victoria and Ratu Kadavulevu schools), and Lautoka fought it out. The top two places were taken by Labasa who won all of its matches and Ratu Finau school who lost only one.

In Pool B the teams were Nadi, Nausori, Suva and a Combined Lau team made up from the boys accompanying the Moce and Komo teams to Crompton Cup. Combined won all its matches with Nadi losing only one.

Both of the metropolitan teams, Suva and Lautoka, failed to win a match in pool play, contesting seventh and eighth places - a most concerning outcome of the tournament.

In the semi finals Nadi played Labasa., and Combined played Ratu Finau. The scores were as follows:-

Lakeba 60 (Sekonaia 17; Atu 3-11, Tukai 3-18) lost to Combined 65-2 (Tukai 29, Watisoni 23) by eight wickets. Nadi 117 beat Labasa 75 by 42 runs

The final between Nadi and Combined was a very good match. Combined 177 (Vuli 34, Atu 32, Meli 25 n.o.; Namua 4-50, Tukai 3-60) def. Nadi 139 all out (49.6 overs) (Aman Prakash 78; Atu 4-11, Vuli 2-13) by 38 runs.

The gold medals and the championship cup went to Combined, the silver medals to Nadi and the bronze to Labasa.

The best bowling performance of the tournament was by Ledua Coqa for Labasa who took 6 wickets for 8 runs, including a hat-trick, against Ratu Finau. The best batting was the fine innings of 78 by Aman Prakash for Nadi in the final. Both these young men were rewarded by being selected in the National under 19 squad to train for the World Cup eliminations to be held in Nadi in August. The squad selection was announced at the presentation ceremony.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd