The Men’s U19 Japan National Team made a strong statement on Day One of the ICC Men’s U19 WC EAP Division One 2025 with an emphatic 106-run victory over Papua New Guinea.

The Japanese effort began the night before the game as they assisted ground staff in clearing water off the square which was the difference between losing 15-overs per side and not having a game at all.

After a three-hour delay to the toss, which Japan duly won and opted to bat, the mood among the Japan fans brightened as quickly as the weather.

An opening stand between captain Nikhil Pol and in-form Nihar Parmar of 65 in 17.1 overs set the team up to accelerate in the second half of the innings, which they duly did.

The dismissal of the captain for 38 (52) brought Hugo Tani-Kelly to the crease who shifted momentum with a 32-ball 33. Parmar soon joined in and brought up his fifty from 83 balls before eventually departing for 59.

Cameos down the order from Charlie Hara-Hinze (18 off 10) and Skyler Nakayama-Cook (9 off 5) helped lift the score to 177 for eight at the end of the innings with Vagi Vani the pick of the PNG bowlers taking three for 20.

In the chase both the Japanese opening bowlers Kazuma Kato-Stafford and Kai Wall struck early to maintain the momentum and that followed the batting innings, before the spinners took over.

Hugo Tani-Kelly gave little away as he collected three for 29 from his seven overs, while Nihar Parmar wrapped up his good day by quickly ending the game to finish with four wickets for just four runs as Japan bowled PNG all out for 71 in the 23rd over.

Japan will take on Fiji in the second game of the tournament from 10am tomorrow.

Highlights

Match Schedule

• 24th April (Thursday) 10:00 – Japan vs PNG (Japan win by 106 runs)
• 25th April (Friday) 10:00 – Japan vs Fiji
• 26th April (Saturday) 10:30 – Fiji vs PNG
• 27th April (Sunday) 10:00 – Japan vs PNG
• 28th April (Monday) 10:00 – Japan vs Fiji
• 29th April (Tuesday) 10:00 – PNG vs Fiji 

All matches will be live streamed on the JCA YouTube Channel.