The fifth match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup East Asia Pacific Qualifier sees Japan Women take on Samoa Women at Albert Park 1 in Suva on September 10, 2025. Both teams are aiming to build early momentum and secure crucial points in Group B, with every result making a difference in the path toward Global Qualifier advancement. A win here could define each side’s campaign, given the tight schedule and competitive field.
Both teams having played a game each in this Qualifier, Japan lost their first encounter to Papua New Guinea whereas Samoa registered an easy win against Philippines. Both sides feature emerging talent and have shown improvement over recent cycles, making this fixture a potential thriller.
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
Samoa Women’s Cricket Team
Kolotita Nonu, Leitu Leong, Regina Lili’i, Carol Agafili, Faaiuga Pouta, Taalili Iosefo, Angel Sootaga, Leutu Mataafa, Ailaoa Aoina, Avetia Mapu, Jane Manase, Norah Salima, Olive Lefaga, Tuaoloa Semau
Players to watch out:
Haruna Iwasaki
Haruna Iwasaki is a right-handed batter from Japan who has played 31 WT20I matches. She has scored 309 runs with the highest score of 50 and a batting average around 9.97. Iwasaki has a strike rate of about 95 in T20Is and has one fifty to her name. She kicked off this campaign on a high, top-scoring for her side, scoring 31 runs.
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 40 T20 Internationals, scoring a total of 653 runs. Her highest T20I score is an unbeaten 52, and she maintains a batting average of around 19.78 with a strike rate of about 86.95. Erika had a quiet start to this campaign but can be trusted to find her way back among runs.
Taalili Iosefo
Taalili Iosefo is a right-handed batter and right-arm medium bowler from Samoa who has played 37 WT20I matches. She has scored 359 runs with an average of 16.31 and a strike rate around 91.11, with a top score of 60 not out. With the ball, she has taken 43 wickets, showcasing her all-round capabilities on the field. Taalili returned figures of 3/5 in the opener and has set the tone for this campaign.
Regina Lili’i
Regina Lili’i is a right-handed batter and occasional right-arm medium bowler from Samoa. She has played 18 WT20Is, scoring 438 runs at an average of 36.50, with a top score of 51. She has a half-century and a strike rate of about 77.65. With the ball, she has taken 5 wickets with an economy rate of 4. She too picked up 3 wickets in the campaign opener and remained unbeaten on 4, set to deliver with both bat and ball.
Pitch:
Albert Park 1 in Suva is known for its generally balanced nature, favoring both batters and bowlers with fair bounce and consistent playing conditions. The ground can sometimes be affected by moisture or rain, which can impact the pitch and outfield conditions.
Weather:
Suva will experience partly cloudy skies with a mix of sun and clouds throughout the day. A brief morning shower is possible, but overall conditions are comfortable. Temperatures will be mild, hovering around 21°C, with moderate humidity.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Kolotita Nonu, Leitu Leong, Regina Lili’i, Carol Agafili, Faaiuga Pouta, Taalili Iosefo, Erika Oda, Haruna Iwasaki, Mai Yanagida, Shimako Kato, Akari Nishimura
Match Details:
Date – September 10, 2025
Time – 3:00 AM IST
Venue – Alberta Park 1, Suva
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
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