A comprehensive wrap-up of the T20 World Cup qualification matches held in Japan between 8 May and 14 May 2026. These regional qualifiers serve as a critical pathway for nations looking to secure a spot on the global stage.

Tournament Standings: Group Stage

The top two teams from each group advanced to the Super Six stage to continue their quest for World Cup qualification.

Group 1

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	NR	Pts	NRR	Qualification
1	Japan	2	2	0	0	4	3.113	Advanced to the Super Six
2	Vanuatu	2	1	1	0	2	2.275	Advanced to the Super Six
3	Fiji	2	0	2	0	0	−5.932	Eliminated

Group 2

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	NR	Pts	NRR	Qualification
1	Samoa	2	2	0	0	4	4.780	Advanced to the Super Six
2	Indonesia	2	1	1	0	2	−1.695	Advanced to the Super Six
3	Philippines	2	0	2	0	0	−2.675	Eliminated

Group 3

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	NR	Pts	NRR	Qualification
1	Papua New Guinea	2	2	0	0	4	4.625	Advanced to the Super Six
2	Cook Islands	2	1	1	0	2	1.995	Advanced to the Super Six
3	South Korea	2	0	2	0	0	−7.273	Eliminated

Super Six Standings

Teams carry forward points earned in the group stage against the other progressing team from their initial group. Standings are current as of the conclusion of matches on 14 May 2026.

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	NR	Pts	NRR
1	Papua New Guinea	3	3	0	0	6	3.695
2	Japan	2	2	0	0	4	1.500
3	Samoa	3	2	1	0	4	0.825
4	Cook Islands	2	1	1	0	2	-1.500
5	Indonesia	3	0	3	0	0	-1.865
6	Vanuatu	3	0	3	0	0	-1.750

Match Summaries

8 May 2026

Indonesia v Philippines (Group 2)

Venue: Sano Cricket Ground No.1

Result: Indonesia won by 11 runs.

Indonesia posted a total of 9 for 132 from their 20 overs after the Philippines won the toss and elected to bowl. The Indonesian innings saw an early setback with Gede Priandana run out for a duck, but the middle order steadied the ship. Kadek Gamantika led the scoring with 45 off 35 balls, including five boundaries and a six, while Gaurav Tiwari contributed a solid 42 off 49. Jonathon Tuffin (2 for 17) and Amanpreet Sirah (2 for 20) were the pick of the bowlers for the Philippines, maintaining a tight line throughout the middle overs. In reply, the Philippines reached 6 for 121 in their allotted overs, struggling to accelerate against a disciplined Indonesian attack. Nivek Tanner made 36 before falling to Kadek Gamantika, while captain Henry Tyler fought hard with an unbeaten 42 not out off 26 balls. Despite Tyler’s late surge, which included a couple of towering sixes, Indonesia held on for an 11-run victory as Kadek Gamantika rounded off a fine game with 2 for 17.

Fiji v Vanuatu (Group 1)

Venue: Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin

Result: Vanuatu won by 121 runs.

Vanuatu dominated their opening fixture, reaching a formidable 4 for 169 after being sent in by a struggling Fijian side. Captain Joshua Rasu anchored the innings with a brilliant 59 off 49 balls, finding the boundary with ease. Andrew Mansale provided a late boost with 49 off 33, while Nalin Nipiko remained 32 not out to ensure a high total. Josaia Baleicikoibia was the only Fijian bowler to claim multiple wickets, taking 2 for 29, but the rest of the attack was expensive. Fiji’s chase was short-lived as they were bundled out for a measly 48 in just 14.4 overs. Williamsing Nalisa was lethal for Vanuatu, claiming 3 for 6, while Darren Wotu and Joshua Rasu took 2 for 3 and 2 for 10 respectively to finish the game quickly.

Cook Islands v South Korea (Group 3)

Venue: Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin

Result: Cook Islands won by 9 wickets.

South Korea endured a horror start after losing the toss, being bowled out for 47 in just 16.2 overs. Sageer Ahmad was the only Korean batter to offer real resistance, top scoring with 20 before the tail collapsed. Quin Stephens was the standout bowler for the Cook Islands, taking 3 for 4 in a clinical display of accuracy. Jared Tutty (2 for 10), Oscar Taylor (2 for 8), and Cory Dickson (2 for 4) ensured the pressure remained constant and wickets fell at regular intervals. The Cook Islands chased the target in quick time, reaching 1 for 49 in just 4.4 overs. Thomas Parima remained 21 not out off 10 balls, hitting two maximums to seal the deal, while captain Ma’ara Ave finished 7 not out to secure a comprehensive 9-wicket win.

9 May 2026

Indonesia v Samoa (Group 2)

Venue: Sano Cricket Ground No.1

Result: Samoa won by 9 wickets.

Samoa put on a clinical performance after winning the toss and electing to bowl first on a helpful deck. Indonesia was restricted to 8 for 92 in their 20 overs, never really recovering from early strikes by the Samoan seamers. Kavin Chaddha (25) and Dharma Kesuma (21) provided the only significant scores as Solomon Nash (3 for 6) and Samson Sola (3 for 10) ripped through the order. Samoa’s chase was rapid and ruthless, reaching 1 for 93 in just 9.2 overs to secure a massive win. Darius Visser blazed 58 off 26 balls, including six fours and four sixes, before falling to Kadek Gamantika with the win in sight. Captain Sean Solia remained 28 not out to complete the victory with over 10 overs to spare.

Japan v Vanuatu (Group 1)

Venue: Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin

Result: Japan won by 30 runs.

Japan won the toss and elected to bat, eventually finishing with 123 in 19.4 overs after a late collapse. Esam Rahman was the top scorer with a vital 30 off 36 balls, while Sabaorish Ravichandran (18) and Abhishek Anand (14) made useful middle-order contributions. Joshua Rasu was the pick of the Vanuatu bowlers with 4 for 24, supported by Patrick Matautaava who finished with 3 for 9. Vanuatu’s chase never gained the necessary momentum, finishing on 6 for 93 after their 20 overs. Junior Kaltapau was the lone bright spot for Vanuatu with a gritty 37 not out off 38 balls, but lacked support from the other end. For Japan, Abdul Samad was exceptionally tight with 2 for 4 from his 4 overs, while Charles Hara-Hinze claimed 2 for 21 to defend the total.

Papua New Guinea v South Korea (Group 3)

Venue: Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin

Result: Papua New Guinea won by 136 runs.

PNG delivered a batting masterclass after winning the toss, reaching a massive 3 for 197 in their 20 overs. Tony Ura was the hero of the day, smashing an unbeaten 106 not out off 55 balls, featuring eight boundaries and four sixes. Sese Bau supported him brilliantly with 59 off 41 balls, as the pair shared a century partnership. South Korea’s response was stifled immediately by the PNG new-ball bowlers, as they were bowled out for 61 in 19.4 overs. Aue Oru was the star with the ball, taking 4 for 11, while Lega Siaka picked up 2 for 5 in his short spell. Daham Madampage (16) and captain Balage Dilruksha (13) were the only batters to offer resistance in the heavy 136-run loss.

10 May 2026

Philippines v Samoa (Group 2)

Venue: Sano Cricket Ground No.1

Result: Samoa won by 96 runs.

Samoa continued their dominant run in the tournament, posting 7 for 166 after winning the toss and batting first. Captain Sean Solia led from the front with a masterful 74 off 56 balls, while Darius Visser contributed a solid 34 to the total. Amanpreet Sirah (2 for 31) was the most successful bowler for the Philippines, but the rest of the attack struggled to contain the scoring. The Philippines chase collapsed to 70 in 14.4 overs, unable to handle the pace and accuracy of the Samoan bowlers. Solomon Nash was once again the key, taking 4 for 12, as wickets fell in clusters. Andrew Donovan (25) was the only Filipino batter to get going, as Darius Visser (2 for 12) and Samson Sola (2 for 6) polished off the tail for a 96-run victory.

Japan v Fiji (Group 1)

Venue: Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin

Result: Japan won by 8 wickets.

Fiji’s struggles with the bat continued as they were bowled out for 74 in 19.4 overs against a disciplined Japanese side. Josaia Baleicikoibia fought hard for 39 off 57 balls, but received absolutely no support from his teammates. Ibrahim Takahashi was outstanding for Japan, taking 3 for 4 in a devastating spell, while Reo Sakurano-Thomas (2 for 15) and Makoto Taniyama (2 for 27) also struck early. Japan reached the target in just 7.1 overs, finishing on 2 for 75 to secure a quick win. Esam Rahman was the star of the chase, hitting 47 not out off 26 balls, including seven fours and a six, to end the game in a hurry.

Cook Islands v Papua New Guinea (Group 3)

Venue: Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin

Result: Papua New Guinea won by 49 runs.

In a high-scoring battle, PNG reached 5 for 204 after being sent in by the Cook Islands. Lega Siaka smashed a brilliant 80 not out off 50 balls, while Tony Ura followed his century from the previous day with a quickfire 74 off 33. Cory Dickson claimed 2 for 29 for the Cook Islands, but found it difficult to stem the flow of boundaries. The Cook Islands responded with a spirited 6 for 155, showing they could compete with the tournament heavyweights. Hayden Dickson scored 50 off 32 balls and Cory Dickson added an unbeaten 41 not out off 21 balls to keep the chase alive. However, PNG’s bowling depth was too much, with Sese Bau (2 for 22) and John Kariko (2 for 29) ensuring a 49-run victory.

12 May 2026

Samoa v Vanuatu (Super Six)

Venue: Sano Cricket Ground No.1

Result: Samoa won by 9 wickets.

Vanuatu won the toss and batted first in this crucial Super Six clash, but were held to a below-par 8 for 129. Junior Kaltapau was the top performer with 37 not out off 23 balls, striking the ball cleanly at the death. Saumani Tiai was the standout for Samoa, taking 4 for 25 to restrict Vanuatu in the final overs. Samoa’s chase was dominant and rarely looked in trouble, reaching 1 for 132 in just 15.3 overs. Darius Visser carried his bat for a superb 75 not out off 51 balls, hitting twelve boundaries in a clinical display. Benjamin Mailata remained 27 not out at the other end to complete the comprehensive nine-wicket victory.

Japan v Indonesia (Super Six)

Venue: Sano Cricket Ground No.1

Result: Japan won by 41 runs.

Japan won the toss and reached a solid 7 for 142 in their 20 overs. Alex Shirai-Patmore led the way with a well-constructed 52 off 49 balls, while Ibrahim Takahashi added a quick 37 off 22 to boost the total. Ferdinando Banunaek (2 for 17) and Gaurav Tiwari (2 for 22) bowled well for Indonesia, keeping them in the hunt during the first half. Indonesia’s reply was restricted to 101 in 19.1 overs as they lost wickets at crucial moments. Kadek Gamantika top-scored with 33, but Japan’s disciplined attack proved far too much to handle. Makoto Taniyama (2 for 11) and Reo Sakurano-Thomas (2 for 12) led the way for the hosts to secure the 41-run win.

13 May 2026

Papua New Guinea v Samoa (Super Six)

Venue: Sano Cricket Ground No.1

Result: Papua New Guinea won by 2 wickets.

In a low-scoring thriller, Samoa was bowled out for 112 in 20 overs after being sent in to bat. Darius Visser (31) and Sean Solia (23) were the main contributors, but the middle order failed to build on their starts. For PNG, John Kariko (3 for 15) and Alei Nao (3 for 30) were the stars with the ball, picking up wickets at vital times. PNG’s chase was incredibly tense, as Saumani Tiai tore through the top order to take 4 for 22 and put Samoa in the box seat. However, captain Assad Vala (26) and Alei Nao (15 not out) showed great composure under pressure to guide PNG to 8 for 115, securing a narrow two-wicket win in the final over.

Cook Islands v Vanuatu (Super Six)

Venue: Sano Cricket Ground No.1

Result: Cook Islands won by 11 runs.

The Cook Islands won the toss and posted a strong 7 for 163 in their Super Six encounter. Aue Parima smashed 64 off 45 balls, including five sixes, while Hayden Dickson made a rapid 55 to set a challenging target. Tim Cutler (2 for 19) and Joshua Rasu (2 for 32) were the pick of the Vanuatu bowlers in a tough session in the field. In a rain-affected response, Vanuatu reached 5 for 69 in 8 overs before the match was called off. Joshua Rasu (22) and Andrew Mansale (19) tried to stay with the required rate, but the Cook Islands were declared winners by 11 runs under the DLS method. Jared Tutty (2 for 8) and Quin Stephens (2 for 12) were the key wicket-takers for the Cook Islands.

14 May 2026

Indonesia v Papua New Guinea (Super Six)

Venue: Sano International Cricket Ground, Sano Result: Papua New Guinea won by 38 runs.

Papua New Guinea secured a vital Super Six victory, defeating Indonesia by 38 runs after being sent in to bat. The PNG innings was anchored by a patient 34 off 33 balls from captain Assad Vala, while Lega Siaka (32 off 37) and Alei Nao (18 not out) provided late momentum. Tony Ura was run out early for 6 as the Indonesian attack initially kept things tight. Sudhakar Jegannathan (2 for 14) and Kavin Chaddha (2 for 19) were the most effective Indonesian bowlers. In reply, Indonesia’s chase stuttered as they lost wickets regularly, eventually being bowled out for 92 in 19 overs. Aue Oru was the standout performer with the ball, claiming 4 for 13, while Assad Vala capped off a Player of the Match performance by taking 2 for 3 from his two overs.

Tournament Statistics

Leading Run Scorers (Top 10)

Rank	Player	Team	Runs
1	Darius Visser	Samoa	198
2	Tony Ura	PNG	188
3	Sean Solia	Samoa	148
4	Hayden Dickson	Cook Islands	141
5	Lega Siaka	PNG	132
6	Junior Kaltapau	Vanuatu	113
7	Joshua Rasu	Vanuatu	112
8	Sese Bau	PNG	115
9	Esam Rahman	Japan	104
10	Kadek Gamantika	Indonesia	78

Leading Wicket Takers (Top 10)

Rank	Player	Team	Wickets
1	Saumani Tiai	Samoa	10
2	Aue Oru	PNG	10
3	Joshua Rasu	Vanuatu	9
4	Assad Vala	PNG	8
5	Solomon Nash	Samoa	7
6	Quin Stephens	Cook Islands	6
7	Jared Tutty	Cook Islands	6
8	John Kariko	PNG	6
9	Ibrahim Takahashi	Japan	5
10	Samson Sola	Samoa	5

Highest Individual Scores

Rank	Player	Team	Score	Opposition
1	Tony Ura	PNG	106*	South Korea
2	Lega Siaka	PNG	80*	Cook Islands
3	Darius Visser	Samoa	75*	Vanuatu
4	Tony Ura	PNG	74	Cook Islands
5	Sean Solia	Samoa	74	Philippines
6	Aue Parima	Cook Islands	64	Vanuatu
7	Joshua Rasu	Vanuatu	59	Fiji
8	Sese Bau	PNG	59	South Korea
9	Darius Visser	Samoa	58	Indonesia
10	Hayden Dickson	Cook Islands	55	Vanuatu

Best Bowling Figures

Rank	Player	Team	Figures	Opposition
1	Solomon Nash	Samoa	4/12	Philippines
2	Aue Oru	PNG	4/13	Indonesia
3	Saumani Tiai	Samoa	4/22	PNG
4	Joshua Rasu	Vanuatu	4/24	Japan
5	Saumani Tiai	Samoa	4/25	Vanuatu
6	Aue Oru	PNG	4/11	South Korea
7	Solomon Nash	Samoa	3/6	Indonesia
8	Williamsing Nalisa	Vanuatu	3/6	Fiji
9	Quin Stephens	Cook Islands	3/4	South Korea
10	Ibrahim Takahashi	Japan	3/4	Fiji