Japan Women take on Papua New Guinea Women on September 9 at Albert Park 2 in Suva in what promises to be a keenly contested Group B clash of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup East Asia Pacific Qualifier 2025. Both teams are eager to get off to a strong start in this regional tournament that provides a pathway to the Global Qualifier, showcasing growing talent across East Asia and the Pacific.
Papua New Guinea, led by captain Brenda Tau, features multiple all-rounders like Pauke Siaka and Hollan Doriga who will play pivotal roles with bat and ball. Mai Yanagida is the captain of the Japan Women’s team, and their lineup is led by seasoned batters Erika Oda and wicketkeeper Akari Nishimura. Their bowling unit, including Ayumi Fujikawa and Erika Toguchi-Quinn, will seek to stifle the opposition batters early in the innings.
Squads:
Japan Women’s Cricket Team
Erika Oda, Haruna Iwasaki, Seika Sumi, Ahilya Chandel, Mai Yanagida, Shimako Kato, Akari Nishimura, Hinase Goto, Ayumi Fujikawa, Elena Kusuda-Nairn, Erika Toguchi-Quinn, Kurumi Ota, Nonoha Yasumoto
Papua New Guinea Women’s Cricket Team
Konio Oala, Lakshmi Rajadurai, Melanie Ani, Naoani Vare, Henao Thomas, Hollan Doriga, Pauke Siaka, Brenda Tau, Dika Lohia, Erani Pokana, Geua Tom, Hane Tau, Isabel Toua, Mairi Tom
Players to watch out:
Erika Oda
Erika Oda is a right-handed batter from Japan who has been a key player for the Japan Women’s cricket team. She has played 37 T20 Internationals, scoring a total of 613 runs, with her highest T20I score being an unbeaten 52. She maintains a batting average of around 20.43 with a strike rate of about 86.58. While she does not bowl regularly, her batting consistency and experience make her an important player.
Mai Yanagida
Mai Yanagida is a right-handed batter and off-spin bowler for the Japan women’s cricket team, known for her all-round contributions. She has played 47 T20 Internationals, scoring 499 runs with a batting average of 13.86 and the highest score of 64 not out. With the ball, she has taken 25 wickets at an average of 16.12 and an economy rate of 4.81, proving to be a useful bowler in the middle overs.
Konio Oala
Konio Hera Oala features as a right-handed batter and right-arm off-break bowler. In T20 Internationals, she has played 5 matches, scoring 64 runs at an average of 21.33, with a top score of 35. With the ball, she has taken 3 wickets from 72 deliveries at a bowling average of 21.00 and an economy rate of 5.25, with best bowling figures of 2/15. She is quickly establishing herself as a valuable all-rounder for Papua New Guinea.
Henao Thomas
Henao Thomas is a right-handed batter and right-arm off-break bowler for Papua New Guinea women’s cricket team. In T20 Internationals, she has played 27 matches, scored 126 runs at a batting average of about 25.20, with the highest score of 46. With the ball, she has taken 17 wickets at a bowling average around 14.58, with best bowling figures of 5 for 13. She is recognized as an all-rounder contributing both with bat and ball.
Pitch:
The pitch at Albert Park 2 in Suva, Fiji, is generally neutral, with some help for pacers. It offers consistent bounce and a fair balance between bat and ball. There is also a high chance of rain, which can make conditions tricky. Overall, matches here tend to be evenly contested without extreme bias towards batting or bowling.
Weather:
Suva will see cloudy skies and moderate to heavy rain showers, with a high of 23°C and low near 20°C. Humidity will be high, making conditions feel muggy. Expect around 13 mm of rainfall and winds of 15–19 km/h.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Erika Oda, Haruna Iwasaki, Seika Sumi, Ahilya Chandel, Mai Yanagida, Shimako Kato, Konio Oala, Lakshmi Rajadurai, Melanie Ani, Naoani Vare, Henao Thomas
Match Details:
Date – September 9, 2025
Time – 3:00 AM IST
Venue – Alberta Park 2, Suva, Fiji
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
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