Charlie Hara-Hinze continued his fine form as the Men’s Japan Under 19 National Team recorded their third win in a row at the ICC Men’s U19 WC EAP Division One 2025.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, the hosts needed to rely on their batting depth after several batters got in but could not convert their starts.

Captain Nikhil Pol made 40 before becoming the first of three victims for Vagi Vani (three for 27), while Hara-Hinze made a quickfire 30 before edging behind as PNG had Japan in trouble at 96 for five in the 27th over.

PNG kept chipping away and with Japan 131 for seven in the 41st over there was some concern they could post a below par score, however Skyler Nakayama-Cook (30*) and Ryuki Ozeki (20*) put on an unbroken 48-run partnership, the highest of the innings, to steer the team to 179 for seven at the halfway mark.

The PNG openers were steady to begin with, but the introduction of spin was their undoing as Hugo Tani-Kelly wrecked havoc among their top order.

The initial breakthrough came as Hara-Hinze clean bowled the PNG captain in the 7th over, but the game turned quickly in the 12th over as Tani-Kelly grabbed three wickets in four balls to leave PNG reeling.

Tani-Kelly would eventually finish with four for 21, while Hara-Hinze ended another good day with three for 19, each bowling their allotted ten overs.

Japan eventually polished off the tail, and despite an obdurate 26 not out from 89 balls from Aluend Boge, Japan wrapped up the win by 71 runs with more than ten overs to spare.

Japan will play their final match of the tournament tomorrow, knowing that a win against Fiji will secure World Cup qualification for the first time since 2019.

Highlights

Match Schedule

• 24th April (Thursday) 10:00 – Japan vs PNG (Japan won by 106 runs)
• 25th April (Friday) 10:00 – Japan vs Fiji (Japan won by 6 wickets)
• 26th April (Saturday) 10:30 – Fiji vs PNG (Fiji won by 94 runs)
• 27th April (Sunday) 10:00 – Japan vs PNG (Japan won by 71 runs)
• 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.