Japan Defeat Vanuatu in Debut Game at Korogi

The Men’s Japan National Team won their first match at the newly built cricket ground at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin City, which will host the Asian Games Cricket Competition later this year.

Taking on Vanuatu, who Japan last played in 2024, Japan knew a win would put one foot into the Super Sixes and immediately chose to bat after winning the toss.

After a smooth start Japan slipped from 21 for no loss to 30 for three inside 16 deliveries as Vanuatu grabbed some early momentum. That was blunted by a 30-run stand between Esam Rahman (30 from 36 balls) and Sabaorish Ravichandran (18 off 19) which only ended after a chaotic run out between the pair sent Ravichandran back to the hutch.

Vanuatu seized the upper hand again in the 15th over as Joshua Rasu struck three times in six balls, before another fell in the 16th over as Japan slumped to 100 for eight and needed the tail to drag them to 123 all out with two balls left unbowled.

Japan faced a tough challenge defending a modest total against a confident Vanuatu side that had scored 169 against Fiji the day before, they did however have the support of an enthusiastic home crowd who helped Japan’s bowlers make an immediate impact.

Left-arm spinners Abdul Samad (two wickets for four runs) and Charlie Hara-Hinze (two for 21) grabbed three wickets for just a single run in the power-play, and the suffocating bowling put Japan in the driving seat from the off.

Vanuatu were never able to recover, despite the best efforts of Junior Kaltapau who made the top score in the game of 37* from 38 balls, but the innings meandered to a tame close at 93 for six to give Japan a satisfying win by 30 runs to start off their tournament in style.