Mighty Efate Panthers
“Ready to attack on land and water!”
Captain: Joshua Rasu
Colours: grey and black
Squad: Brian Tari, Edwell Kalfau, Jarryd Allan, Richard Barnes, Selwyn Garae, Shem Sala, Simpson Obed, Tony Tamata, Lazaro Carlot, Lency Shem, Wesley Viraliliu, Joshua Rasu, Junior Alfred Carlot, Kendy Kenneth, Kenny Tari, Manu Kenni, MacMillan Markia, William Laumae, Lenika Natapei, Maxim Stephen Team Manager: Brett Wright
Key players: Joshua Rasu, Simpson Obed, Wesley Viraliliu
Ones to watch: Edwell Kalfau, Tony Tamata, William Laumae, Lazaro Carlot
The Mighty Efate Panthers are led by senior international Joshua Rasu, who boasts an impressive national team record in both facets of the game. Averaging a tick under 30 in T20Is, he also has a five-wicket haul against Papua New Guinea to his name bowling his medium pace. Simpson Obed’s leg-spin will be almost competition-defining for the Panthers, and Wesley Viraliliu’s contribution with both bat and ball could turn a game.
Quick Edwell Kalfau enjoyed a strong East-Asia Pacific U19 World Cup Qualifier last year, and the Panthers have no less than four current youth internationals in their side. Look out for William Laumae, a squad member of the U19 national side, who is just 14 years of age. At the other end of the spectrum, 30-year-old Lazaro Carlot hasn’t represented the national team for a number of years, but has enjoyed run-filled T20 championships in recent years and could use the tournament to spring back into national team contention.
The lottery of T10 means the Panthers will always be in the hunt, and the short format gives a sense of freedom to the top order, who could come off the ground with 150 next to their team’s name. Write the Panthers off at your peril.
Predicted XI:
Rasu
L. Carlot
Allen
K. Tari
Kenneth
Viraliliu
Tamata
Sala
Markia
Kenni
Obed
Prediction: Third
