New Zealand remain undefeated in Pacific qualifiers as cricket returns to TIO Stadium

Callan Morse Published June 19, 2023 at 1.00pm (AWST)

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Cricket's return to Darwin's TIO Stadium saw New Zealand comfortably account for Papua New Guinea. (Image: Patch Clapp)

New Zealand has remained undefeated in the ICC Under-19 World Cup East Asia Pacific Qualifiers, comfortably defeating Papua New Guinea as cricket returned to Darwin's TIO Stadium for the first time in 15 years.

In other matches, Japan were too strong for Samoa and Fiji beat Vanuatu in a low scoring affair.

New Zealand (7-245) defeated Papua New Guinea (10-102) by 143 runs

After being sent in to bat by PNG captain Tau Trevor Griffin, New Zealand's batters enjoyed the drop-in wicket at Darwin's TIO Stadium to post 7-245 from their 50 overs.

Middle order batter Tom Jones lead the way for the Blackcaps with an unbeaten 72* (72), with captain Oscar Jackson scoring 68 (73).

Five other New Zealand batters registering double figure starts, however it was Jones and Jackson who laid the foundation of the innings, putting on 71 for the third wicket.

Seamer James Frank Momo was the pick of the Papua New Guinean attack, taking 3-34 from his eight overs.

In response Papua New Guinea struggled with the bat, with only wicketkeeper-batter Nelson Pate (46 from 113) and lower order batter Ramzi Stanley Bau (13 from 29) making it to double figures.

Strong bowling performances from Ryan Tsourgas (3-10), Rahman Hekmat (2-11) and Oscar Jackson (2-12) saw PNG bowled out for 102 inside 35 overs.

Japan (10-259) defeated Samoa (10-125) by 134 runs

Japan were too strong for Samoa at Marrara Cricket Ground on the back of half-century contributions from captain Koji Hardgrave-Abe (52 from 63) and Kazuma Kato-Stafford (51 from 47).

Opener Nikhil Pol (47 from 84) and off-spinning allrounder Shotaro Hiratsuka (39 from 56) also contributed patient knocks, to Japan bowled out for 259 on the second last ball of the innings.

Samoa's Punapunavale Su'a Sale was the best with the ball, taking 3-29 from 9.5 whilst Bondi Pita (2-44) picked up two wickets.

Five ducks throughout the chase hampered Samoa's efforts to post a competitive reply with the bat.

Opener Darren Roache top scored for the Samoan side, scoring 40 (68) with Iefata Faafetai Tautiaga ending the innings unbeaten on 34* (50).

Four Japanese bowlers picked up multiple wickets, with left arm seamer Kazuma Kato-Stafford (3-26) leading the attack with three wickets.

Fiji (10-66) defeated Vanuatu (10-31) by 35 runs

After winning the toss and electing to bat, a five-wicket haul from opener Shay Narai saw Vanuatu bowl Fiji out for 66.

Narai too 5-18 from his eight overs, with off-spinner Josh Andrew Molivakoro picking up three wickets to see Fiji bowled out in just the 22nd over of the innings.

Looking to secure their first win of the tournament, Vanuatu suffered a cataclysmic collapse, with seven batters dismissed without scoring to see them bundles out in just 14 overs.

A five-wicket haul from seamers Viliame Matai Waqavakatoga (5-10) and four wickets from Joeli Qalo Ki Moala (4-6) did the damage for Fiji.

Under-19 World Cup East Asia Pacific qualifiers continues on Monday with matches between Samoa and Vanuatu, Indonesia and New Zealand and Papua New Guinea and Japan.