Japan finished second at the East Asia Pacific Regional Final as Papua New Guinea qualified for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean.

In the final match of the tournament Japan made a good start with Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming and Declan’s Suzuki-McComb striking the ball cleanly.

However a disastrous fifth over left the team reeling at 27 for four, which became 37 for five soon after when the captain became the latest victim for Normal Vanua.

A rebuilding job was done by Reo Sakurano-Thomas (30) and Wataru Miyauchi (18), who put on 51 in ten overs before Vanua returned to claim his fourth victim on his way to the match MVP award.

A final score of 106 for eight did not look enough against the strong PNG batting line up, and Tony Ura was imperious at the start.

Ura struck boundaries at will on his way to a 19-ball 47, before falling to Kohei Kubota (three for 11).

Japan showed great fight in the field, Ryan Drake and Suzuki-McComb holding two good catches each, but the score simply was not enough as the hosts finished the tournament with six wins from six, the last by six wickets.

With 218 runs for the tournament, captain Kadowaki-Fleming left with the best batter award in recognition of his fine form throughout the tournament.

Japan were indebted to firstly to the bat of Sabaorish Ravichandran, and then to the bowling unit which proved too strong for the Philippines.

Batting first Japan were under pressure at 43 for three when Ravichandran entered the fray, and his 41 from 26 balls shifted momentum decisively.

When Japan completed their innings, a total of 127 was going to require the bowlers to be at their best to see the team home.

The Philippines opening batters, Russ (43*) and Samra (25) made a steady start, taking them to 47 in the tenth over before Declan Suzuki knocked back Samra’s middle stump.

From there the bowlers began to really stifle the batters with Piyush Kumbhare and Ravichandran economical as ever.

The run rate required continued to rise and culminated in a 33-run win for Japan, achieved with several players off the field with injury.

Speaking after the match captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming said: “we’ve got a few injuries to assess, but I’m confident I’ll be fine. It was great to see Reo (Sakurano) step up and lead the team in the field, he did a great job.”

Tomorrow is a rest day for Japan with Vanuatu following that on Friday morning.

Hosts Papua New Guinea got the better of a Japan team who showed plenty of fight at Amini Park.

The loss of early wickets proved pivotal as Japan struggled to deal with the extra pace on show from the PNG bowlers, most notably Sema Kamea who dismissed both Japanese opening batters.

It was left to Declan Suzuki and Reo Sakurano to rebuild from 28 for six in the eighth over, with Suzuki still there at the end of the innings unbeaten on 34*.

A total of 87 for eight was always going to be tough to defend, but the Japanese players came out fighting in the second innings.

Sakurano bowled a memorable spell to have the hosts rattled at 10 for two in the first three overs, before Assad Vala (28) and Charles Amini (30*) led the recovery with a partnership of 51.

Ibrahim Takahashi removed the dangerous Vala and Makoto Taniyama removed vice captain Lega Siaka but PNG were able to reach the target in the 16th over with six wickets remaining.

While the defeat is a disappointment for Japan, there were plenty of positive aspects in the performance as the hosts were made to work hard for the win.

Japan take on the Philippines next at 12:30 JST on Wednesday.

Japan defeated Vanuatu for the first time in 15 years at Amini Park.

The win came thanks to explosive performances from captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming and fast bowler Ryan Drake.

After losing the toss, Japan were immediately in trouble as Vanuatu struck three times in the first 14 balls.

“It wasn’t an ideal start”, said Kadowaki-Fleming after the match. “We know we still have guys who can perform for us down the order, so there was no panic.”

Ibrahim Takahashi (20) and Sabaorish Ravichandran (19) played the support roles in partnerships of 48 and 59 as Kadowaki-Fleming continued his form from the previous day with another inspiring half-century.

After becoming one of three victims for his opposite number, Patrick Matautaava, for 65 in the 18th over, the lower order for Japan succumbed to Nalin Nipiko who collected four for 17.

A total of 131 all out seemed a bit below par and would require good bowling if Japan were to win, something coach Dhugal Bedingfield told the press after the match.

He said: “The pitch seemed harder to bat on than yesterday so we had to reassess a little, and although we would have liked a few more we felt 131 was a defendable total.”

Piyush Kumbhare took the first and last wickets to fall and ended with figures of two for 23, but it was Ryan Drake who really prised the game open for Japan.

In just his second game for his country, Drake bowled with pace and venom to trouble the batters and spark a collapse of four wickets for 12 runs in 19 balls as he finished with figures of three for 16 with all his victims top
order batters.

Japan was also aided by some fantastic catching, Makoto Taniyama leaping at cover and Declan’s Suzuki springing one-handed at midwicket.

With Vanuatu 45 for five in the tenth over, Japan were well on top and just needed to maintain disciple to see the game off.

Reo Sakurano-Thomas and Takahashi provided that control and the good catching proving infectious as Japan ultimately kept Vanuatu to 110 for eight to earn a win by 21 runs and go two wins from two in the tournament.

A rest day is scheduled for Monday 24th July, so Japan will be back in action on Tuesday afternoon as they take on hosts and tournament favourites Papua New Guinea looking to make more history.