Japan’s Hugo Tani-Kelly hit a 79* against defending champions Australia in the U19 World Cup on Tuesday (January 20) after a ton on Youth ODI debut against Sri Lanka.
Hugo Tani-Kelly of Japan starts off U19 World Cup in style
Fresh off a hundred in their opening U19 World Cup match, Tani-Kelly was called upon in just the second over of Japan’s group-stage game against Australia. He took his time, getting to six off 22 before a booming cover drive took him into double digits. He added 58 crucial runs with opener Nihar Parmar for the second wicket and 44 with Charlie Hara-Hinze for the third. Charlie's brothers, Montgomery and Gabriel, were also part of Japan's XI.
Even as wickets fell at the other end, with Japan going from 105-2 to 118-6, the 17-year-old kept his composure, eventually getting to his fifty through an edge that went for four. His 72-run eighth-wicket partnership with the second of the three Hara-Hinze brothers, Montgomery, pushed Japan’s total close to the 200-run mark, which they eventually crossed to finish at 201-8.
Match 16, Australia Under-19 vs Japan Under-19
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Tani-Kelly’s fighting half-century against Australia came after another one-man show in their opening U19 World Cup game against Sri Lanka on Saturday (January 17). Viran Chamuditha and Dimantha Mahavithana’s record 328-run opening partnership had driven Sri Lanka to a massive 387.
Japan were never in the game, but Tani-Kelly’s resolve stood out. He walked out on the third delivery in the game and remained unbeaten even as his side lost by 203 runs, hitting a 162-ball 101, with six fours and a six on his YODI debut. This was also Japan's first-ever hundred in the U19 World Cup on their second appearance.
The two World Cup knocks took the teenager’s 50-plus tally against full-member teams in 50-over cricket to three. Tani-Kelly, as a 15-year-old, had scored a 50 against India in the 2024 U19 Asia Cup. However, that wasn't recognised as an official Youth ODI. Tani-Kelly will next be in action when Japan face Ireland in their final group-stage game of the World Cup on Thursday (January 22).
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