Papua New Guinea have beaten Samoa by six wickets to advance to the Global Qualifier for next year's Women's World T20 Cricket Championship.
In a winner takes all final round robin match at the East Asia-Pacific Qualifier, Samoa were put into bat and slumped to one run for two wickets after losing both openers in the first three overs.
Captain Regina Lili'I (32 off 45 balls) and Lelia Bourne (19 off 22 balls) stabilised the innings with a 43-run partnership before a mini-collapse saw Samoa lose three wickets in five balls.
From there the Samoans scraped through to post 79 for 9 from their 20 overs.
PNG's opening pair of Sibona Jimmy and Tanya Ruma raced out to 33 without loss after six overs, before the Lewas slumped to 45 for 4 in the 11th over.
It was left to captain Pauke Siaka (19 from 27 balls) and Brenda Tau (20 from 30 balls) to guide PNG to victory with eight balls remaining.
PNG players celebrate the winning runs. Photo: ICC East Asia Pacific
Siaka was proud of her team's effort saying that "our bowlers they did a really good job and we got early wickets."
"We are very happy to have made it to the next stage of qualification and I know the girls are very excited," she said.
The win means PNG and Samoa finish equal on points but PNG finish on top with a superior net run rate and get the one qualifying spot available.
The 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier will be held later in 2017 or early 2018.
Meanwhile hosts Japan finished on a winning note in Sano, beating Vanuatu by three wickets.
Captain Selina Solman top scored with 24 not out as Vanuatu posted 83 for 5 from their 20 overs.
Shizuka Miyaji was the pick of the Japanese bowlers, claiming one wicket for only four runs in four overs.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Japan then chased down their target in front of their home supporters with six balls to spare.
Rio Endo was awarded player of the match after a measured 15 not out from 32 deliveries.
