Australia vs Japan highlights, U19 World Cup 2026: Australia beat Japan by 8 wickets

Montgomery Hara-Hinze to Nitesh Samuel, Hard length and around off, Nitesh Samuel punches it to extra cover.

After 7 overs, Japan Under-19 were 17/1, and Australia Under-19 are 71/0. Massive difference, and this shows the gap in experience from both sides. Also, Montgomery Hara-Hinze comes into the attack now.

Kazuma Kato-Stafford to Nitesh Samuel, Bangs this into the pitch, on middle, Nitesh Samuel adjusts well and swats it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Kazuma Kato-Stafford to Nitesh Samuel, Short of a length and just outside off, Nitesh Samuel offers no shot at it.

Kazuma Kato-Stafford to Nitesh Samuel, Hard length and around off, angling away, Nitesh Samuel leaves it alone.

Kazuma Kato-Stafford to Nitesh Samuel, FOUR! Put away nicely! Kazuma Kato-Stafford errs in line and serves this full but down the leg side. Nitesh Samuel just has to get some bat on it and tickles it away fine, beating the keeper's dive to his left and races away to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Kazuma Kato-Stafford to Nitesh Samuel, Back of a length and around off, angling away, Nitesh Samuel leaves it alone.

Kazuma Kato-Stafford to Nitesh Samuel, On a length and on off, Nitesh Samuel blocks it out.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Will Malajczuk, Fires this one short and outside off, Will Malajczuk tries to cut but misses. 13 runs off the over.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Will Malajczuk, FOUR! Same shot, same result! More air on this one, but too full and outside off. Easy picking for Will Malajczuk as he plays another cracking cover drive for four more runs.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Will Malajczuk, Quicker, short and on off, Will Malajczuk stabs it out towards covers. He wants the run but is sent back.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Will Malajczuk, FOUR! FIFTY FOR MALAJCZUK! This has been a terrific knock from the youngster, and he gets to it in just 23 balls. Fastest of this World Cup. Loopy delivery, full and around off, Will Malajczuk gets his hands through the shot and drives it crisply through covers for another boundary.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Will Malajczuk, FOUR! Lovely shot! Flighted, full and outside off, Will Malajczuk extends his arms to reach out for it and drills it between mid off and extra cover for yet another boundary.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Nitesh Samuel, Tossed up, full and on middle, Nitesh Samuel steps across and drives it to long on for a single.

Kazuma Kato-Stafford to Will Malajczuk, Buzzers! Bangs this into the pitch, on middle, Will Malajczuk pulls it away towards deep square leg for one. However, the throw from the deep is a wild one which allows the batters to steal a second.

Kazuma Kato-Stafford to Will Malajczuk, WIDE! Slower, short and down the leg side, Will Malajczuk tries to hook it away but misses out there. Called a wide.

Kazuma Kato-Stafford to Nitesh Samuel, Short of a length and ono ff, Nitesh Samuel dabs it down towards point for a quick in single. 50 UP FOR AUSTRALIA in quick time!

Kazuma Kato-Stafford to Nitesh Samuel, FOUR! First boundary of the tournament for Nitesh Samuel! Pitched up and around off, NItish leans on to his drive and creams it through extra cover for four runs. He has a smile on his face.

Kazuma Kato-Stafford to Nitesh Samuel, Fuller and on middle, Nitesh Samuel blocks it out well this time.

Kazuma Kato-Stafford to Nitesh Samuel, Good length and on off, Nitesh Samuel gets a bit late on his defensive shot and it goes off the toe-end on the bounce to the keeper.

Kazuma Kato-Stafford to Will Malajczuk, Hard length and angling into the leg side, Will Malajczuk tries to glance it away but misses as the ball goes off his pads towards mid-wicket. A leg bye taken.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Nitesh Samuel, Slows it up, short and on off, Nitesh Samuel stays back and keeps it out.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Will Malajczuk, Half-chance! Fires this one full and on middle and off, Will Malajczuk stays back to swipe it away but gets it from the inside half of the bat. It flies towards mid-wicket, where the fielder dives forward but cannot quite get his fingers underneath it. They cross.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Will Malajczuk, SIX! That has gone miles! Charles Hara-Hinze drops it short again and on middle, angling in. Will Malajczuk opens up his stance, picks it up, and deposits it over the deep square leg fence for a biggie. He moves to 42 off just 18 balls.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Will Malajczuk, Quicker, short again and on off, Will Malajczuk steers it away towards short third.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Will Malajczuk, FOUR! Lovely shot! Shorter in length and outside off, Will Malajczuk is not going to miss out on that and cuts it away through point for another boundary. He is just dealing in boundaries here.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Will Malajczuk, Uppish but safe! Flatter, short and on middle, Will Malajczuk looks to pull it away but gets it from the toe-end of the bat. It goes in the air just over mid-wicket and wide of long on for a couple of runs.

Nikhil Pol to Nitesh Samuel, Fuller and on off, Nitesh Samuel gets forward and blocks it out. Pol has gone for 27 runs in his first two overs here.

Nikhil Pol to Will Malajczuk, Overpitched and on off, Will Malajczuk drills it to the left of mid off for a single.

Nikhil Pol to Will Malajczuk, FOUR! Wow..this is another top shot! Nikhil Pol hits the length hard and just around off. Will Malajczuk leans back a bit and punches it with extrem power through covers for four more runs.

Nikhil Pol to Will Malajczuk, Good length and on off, Will Malajczuk stays back and pushes it to short cover.

Nikhil Pol to Will Malajczuk, FOUR! This is great batting! Back of a length and on middle Will Malajczuk this time gets inside the line of it and heaves it away to the deep square leg fence for another boundary.

Nikhil Pol to Will Malajczuk, FOUR! Cut away! Short of a length and outside off, Will Malajczuk gets the chance to free his arms and crunches it over point for a boundary.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Nitesh Samuel, Arm ball, shortish and on off, angling in sharply, Nitesh Samuel stays back and stabs it out to the off side. Just 4 runs off the over.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Will Malajczuk, Drags his length back, on off, Will Malajczuk dabs it to short third for one.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Will Malajczuk, Flighted, full and around off, Will Malajczuk drills it away to short cover.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Will Malajczuk, Quicker, shortish and on middle, Will Malajczuk moves back and flicks it away towards deep square leg for a brace.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Nitesh Samuel, Short again and on middle, angling in, Nitesh Samuel nudges it towards mid-wicket for a single.

Charles Hara-Hinze to Nitesh Samuel, Charles Hara-Hinze begins with a flatter delivery, short and on off, Nitesh Samuel dabs it down to point.

Spin right away as Charles Hara-Hinze comes into the attack.

Nikhil Pol to Will Malajczuk, SIX! Gets it over! Nikhil Pol bangs this into the pitch, on middle and off. Will Malajczuk tries to pull it away but gets a bit hurried. It flies high in the air towards deep square leg, where Charles Hara-Hinze runs to his right, extends his arms to reach it, but the wind just takes it over for a biggie. 14 runs off the first over.

Nikhil Pol to Will Malajczuk, Fuller and on off, Will Malajczuk drills it down towards mid off.

Nikhil Pol to Will Malajczuk, On a length and on middle, Will Malajczuk pats it to the leg side.

Nikhil Pol to Will Malajczuk, Back of a length and around off, Will Malajczuk stays back and blocks it out.

Nikhil Pol to Will Malajczuk, FOUR! TWO IN TWO! Aggressive batting from Will Malajczuk. Short of a length and on middle, Will gets on top of the bounce and swats it over the mid on fielder. He chases after it and puts in a dive to push it back but fails to stop the boundary.

Nikhil Pol to Will Malajczuk, FOUR! Gets off the mark in style! Nikhil Pol starts with a full delivery and around off, Will Malajczuk extends his arms to reach out and drives it powerfully towards short extra cover. Montgomery Hara-Hinze is a bit late to get low and the ball races to the fence for a boundary.

We are back for the chase! The two umpires make their way out to the middle. Japan Under-19 players are in a huddle, where they are trying to get themselves pumped before they take the field. Will Malajczuk and Nitesh Samuel are the two openers for Australia Under-19. Nikhil Pol to start proceedings with the ball. Here we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Australia Under-19 will be pleased with their bowling overall, though conceding 30 extras will be a concern as it pushed the target higher than necessary. William Byrom made an immediate impact on his return, striking with a superb delivery off his very first ball and finishing with two wickets, while Aryan Sharma and Kasey Barton claimed one each. The standout, however, was the leg-spinner, Naden Cooray, who ran through the middle order to take three, and while the chase is manageable, it should still offer the Australian batters a good chance to settle in and gain confidence. Join us in a bit for the second essay.

William Byrom of Australia Under-19 is up for a quick chat. He says that it is a good cricket wicket, and he is happy with the effort of the team. Adds that he loves to put pressure on batters, which either helps him get a wicket or his partner at the other end. Says that he is confident that the batters will chase this down. Ends by saying that he hopes that his domestic team does well in the league, and he goes back to celebrate with them.