Photo / Pukekohe Metro Cricket Facebook

Pukekohe Metro cricketing brothers Thomas and Aue Parima and ex-Papakura Cricket Club brothers Cory and Hayden Dickson have helped put the Cook Islands into a deciding game at the ICC T20 East Asia-Pacific Qualifier Tournament in Vanuatu.

The four-team tournament will see each nation (Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa) play six qualifying matches, with the top team advancing to the next round of qualification for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States.

The Cook Islands started slowly, dropping their opening two matches but have won three on the bounce and take on hosts Vanuatu on Thursday that will determine which side progresses to the next round of qualifying.

In the first game of the tournament Aue Parima scored 23 while Hadyen Dickson added 14 as the Cook Islands posted 110-8 off their 20 overs.

Samoa safely chased the target down in the 12th over despite Cory Dickson grabbing 1-21 off his four overs.

Hayden Dickson scored 51, Cory Dickson 21 and Aue Parima 12 as the Cook Islands made 142 all out off their 20 overs batting first against Fiji in the second game.

Cory Dickson took 2-34 but it wasn’t enough as Fiji won by three wickets.

The Parima brothers helped the Cook Islands chase down Vanuatu’s total of 127 in the 17th over for the loss of only five wickets to record their first win of the tournament.

Aue Parima scored 34 while Thomas Parima added 23.

Cory Dickson took 2-28 to help restrict Samoa to 157-9 off their 20 overs before the Cook Islands chased the target down off the last ball of the game, while just six wickets down to earn the win in their fourth match.

The Parima brothers each scored 18 runs (Thomas was left not out) as the Cook Islands won their third straight game when they beat Fiji by eight wickets as they successfully chased down the target of 148 in the 19th over.

They currently sit second on the table but take on top ranked Vanuatu in Thursday’s final game. The Cook Island outfit will need a big win to overturn a net run rate that currently favours the hosts.