Japan, who are playing their maiden ICC U-19 World Cup, got a reality check against defending champions India at Bloemfontein on Tuesday, 21 January, after they were bowled out for a paltry 41.
This is the joint third lowest total in the history of Under-19 cricket. Scotland have the dubious record getting dismissed for 22, the lowest total ever in U-19 history, against Australia during the 2004 ICC U-19 World Cup in Bangladesh.
Earlier, India’s Priyam Garg won the toss and decided to put Japan into bat.
As many as five Japanese batsmen failed to get off the mark as Ravi Bishnoi was the pick among the Indian bowlers with 4/5. Kartik Tyagi (3/10), Akash Singh (2/11) and Vidyadhar Patil (1/4) were the other Indian bowlers who tormented the minnows.
For Japan, opener Shu Noguchi and Kento Ota Dobell were the joint top scorers with 7 runs but it was the extras column which stood out with 19 runs. The Indians were guilty of bowling 12 wide deliveries. It was Kento’s gritty innings of 39-ball which helped the Japanese side recover from 7/19.
In their inaugural match of the tournament, Japan was lucky to garner a point against New Zealand after the match was called-off due to rain. Japan had won the toss and opted to bowl as New Zealand piled up 195/2 before the rain interruption.
This is the first time Japan is playing a premier Under-19 side in an official game before this World Cup.
During the warm-ups, both Scotland and UAE – who also qualified for the tournament – scored over 300 runs against them following which they were bowled out for 69 and 129 respectively.
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