The first of two East Asia Pacific sub-regional qualifiers - which will feed into a combined Asia/EAP final - got underway today in Samoa, with the hosts and the Cook Islands both recording nine wicket wins.

The four captains before the tournament (ICC)

The tournament opened with a surprise win for the Cook Islands over Vanuatu. Vanuatu were put into bat and scored 180-5 from their 20 overs. Andrew Mansale top scored with 64 from 40 balls, whilst Vanuatu Cricket CEO Tim Cutler hit some lusty blows in his 19 ball 34 and shared in an unbroken 54 run partnership for the sixth wicket.

The Cook Islands reply was dominated by a superb innings by Hayden Dickson. The right-hander, who has previously represented New Zealand at Under-19 level - smashed an unbeaten 112 from 57 balls including 10 fours and 7 sixes for the first ever century for the Cook Islands in T20I cricket. Captain Ma'ara Ave had the second highest score with an unbeaten 36 as the Cooks secured a nine wicket win.

The second game of the day was a much lower scoring affair. Fiji won the toss and chose to bat first against hosts Samoa but were bowled out for 62 with only two batters reaching double figures. Darius Visser was the pick of the Samoan bowlers with 4-11 and Solomon Nash took 3-16.

The home team had little trouble with their low target and knocked off the required runs in 5.1 overs to win by nine wickets. Visser followed his four wicket haul by top scoring with an unbeaten 30 from 12 balls.

Sunday is very much a day of rest in Samoa, so there will be no play tomorrow. When play resumes on Monday the home side will take on the Cook Islands and Fiji play Vanuatu.