The Fiji national under-19 cricket team represents the Republic of Fiji in international under-19 cricket. The team's first recorded match came at the 1997 Youth Asia Cup, but the majority of its matches have come in the EAP Under-19 Trophy, against other teams in the ICC East Asia-Pacific (EAP) region. Fiji won the 2015 edition of the tournament, and consequently qualified for the 2016 Under-19 World Cup, becoming the first team to qualify from the region after Papua New Guinea.

History Cricket has been played in Fiji since 1874, during the time of the Kingdom of Fiji, when British sailors aboard HMS Pearl introduced the sport to Levuka. It quickly became popular amongst the native Fijians, and the Fijian national side became regular visitors to Australia and New Zealand, playing a number of first-class matches. The Fiji Cricket Association gained associate membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1965, one of the first three countries to do so, along with Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and the United States.Philip Snow (1974). "A century in the Fiji islands" – Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. Retrieved from Cricinfo, 28 February 2015.

Organised under-19 international cricket dates only from the 1970s – the first under-19 Test and One Day International (ODI) were played in 1974 and 1976, respectively,Records / Under-19s Youth Test matches / Team records / List of match results (by year) – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 February 2015.Records / Under-19s Youth One-Day Internationals / Team records / List of match results (by year) – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 February 2015. while the first Under-19 World Cup was held in 1988."The Under-19 World Cup: a brief history" – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 February 2015. The Fijian under-19 side's first recorded matches came at the 1997 Youth Asia Cup, which was part of the qualification process for the 1998 World Cup.Other matches played by Fiji Under-19s – CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 February 2015. Their first game was a 134-run loss to Singapore, which was followed by nine-wicket losses to Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong.Youth Asia Cup – Hong Kong Cricket Association. Retrieved from ESPNcricinfo, 28 February 2015.

Although both Fiji and Papua New Guinea had each recently left the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to join the recently formed ICC East Asia-Pacific (EAP) organisation, they continued to participate in ACC tournaments for several years, as few EAP tournaments had yet been organised. Fiji did not participate at the 1999 Youth Asia Cup (the qualifier for the 2000 World Cup),Youth Asia Cup 1999 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 February 2015. but the following year hosted the inaugural edition of the EAP Under-19 Cricket Trophy. With Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea the only other participating teams, the tournament was played as a double round-robin, with Fiji winless from their four matches.East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2001/02 Table – CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 February 2015. However, in Fiji's first game against Hong Kong, Colin Rika score 129 runs opening the batting, the team's first recorded century,Fiji Under-19s v Hong Kong Under-19s, East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2001/02 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 February 2015. and a tournament record until surpassed by Vanuatu's Andrew Mansale at the 2007 tournament.Namibia Under-19s v Papua New Guinea Under-19s, Africa/East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2003/04 (Semi-Final) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 February 2015.

No standalone EAP qualifying tournament was held for the 2004 and 2006 World Cups, with two EAP teams (Fiji and Papua New Guinea) instead participating in a combined tournament with African Cricket Association teams. Fiji finished last at the 2003 combined tournament, hosted by Namibia, but did win their first competitive match, defeating Tanzania by two wickets.Fiji Under-19s v Tanzania Under-19s, Africa/East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2003/04 (Group B) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 February 2015. However, they had earlier lost their opening match against Kenya by 320 runs, conceding 356 runs before being bowled out for 36.Fiji Under-19s v Kenya Under-19s, Africa/East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2003/04 (Group B) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 March 2015. At the 2005 combined tournament, Fiji lost all its group matches, but defeated Nigeria by two wickets in the eighth-place playoff, having bowled them out for 46.Fiji Under-19s v Nigeria Under-19s, Africa/East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2005 (7th Place Play-off) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 March 2015.

The 2007 EAP Under-19 Trophy, the first since 2001, included Japan and Vanuatu for the first time,East Asia-Pacific Championship 2007 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 March 2015. and Fiji were consequently able to win their first match against another EAP side. In their first innings against Japan (playing only its third recorded under-19 match),Other matches played by Japan under-19s – CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 February 2015. Fiji scored 440/8 from its 50 overs, with their captain, Josefa Rika, scoring 257 runs from 147 balls, including 37 fours and 9 sixes. They then dismissed Japan for 53 runs, winning the match by 387 runs. Sekope Biauniceva took 6/13, and both he and Rika's performances remain Fiji under-19 records.Fiji Under-19s v Japan Under-19s, East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2007 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 February 2015. A writer for Cricinfo described Rika's innings as "what must rank as one of the most breathtaking knocks in the history of age-group cricket".Sami-ul-Hasan (20 July 2007). "Fiji captain Josefa Rika hammers scintillating 257" – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 March 2015.

Tournament history Youth Asia Cup 1997: group stages

EAP Under-19 Trophy 2001: 3rd place (3 teams) – hosts 2007: 3rd place (4 teams) 2009: 3rd place (5 teams) 2011: 4th place (5 teams) 2013: 3rd place (4 teams) 2015: 1st place (4 teams)

ICC Africa/EAP Under-19 Championship 2003: 8th place (8 teams) 2005: 7th place (8 teams)

ICC Under-19 World Cup Fiji's U19 World Cup recordYear Result 1988 Did not enter 1998 2000 2002 Did not qualify 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 First round 16th 16 6 0 6 0 0 2018 Did not qualify 2020Total60600

Team records Last updated 8 February 2016.

Highest team scores 440/8 (50 overs), vs. , 20 July 2007, at Independence Park, Port Vila.Fiji Under-19s v Japan Under-19s, East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2007 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 March 2015. 294/7 (50 overs), vs. , 28 February 2015, at Horton Park, Blenheim. 222/9 (50 overs), vs. , 21 August 2001, at Nadi Muslim College, Nadi.Fiji Under-19s v Hong Kong Under-19s, East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2001/02 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 March 2015. 190/9 (50 overs), vs. , 10 February 2011, at Ron McMullin Oval, Maroochydore.Fiji Under-19s v Indonesia Under-19s, East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2010/11 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 March 2015. 171 (31.3 overs), vs. , 24 January 2016, at Fatullah Osmani Stadium, Fatullah.

Lowest team scores 36 (18 overs), vs. , 4 October 2003, at Police Sports Club, Windhoek.Fiji Under-19s v Kenya Under-19s, Africa/East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2003/04 (Group B) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 March 2015. 49 (30.4 overs), vs. , 22 January 2016, at Fatullah Osmani Stadium, Fatullah. 54 (26.1 overs), vs. , 3 July 2013, at John Blanck Oval, Maroochydore.Fiji Under-19s v Vanuatu Under-19s, East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2013 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 March 2015. 62 (24 overs), vs. , 22 August 2001, at Nadi Muslim College, Nadi.Fiji Under-19s v Papua New Guinea Under-19s, East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2001/02 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 March 2015. 63 (33.2 overs), vs , 7 February 2011, at John Blanck Oval, Maroochydore.Fiji Under-19s v Papua New Guinea Under-19s, East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2010/11 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 March 2015.

Highest individual scores 257 (145 balls) – Joseph Rika, vs. , 20 July 2007, at Independence Park, Port Vila. 129 (156 balls) – Colin Rika, vs. , 21 August 2001, at Nadi Muslim College, Nadi. 100 (92 balls) – Delaimatuku Maraiwai, vs. , 28 February 2015, at Horton Park, Blenheim. 89* (89 balls) – Noa Acawei, vs. , 10 February 2011, at Ron McMullin Oval, Maroochydore. 80 (123 balls) – Peni Vuniwaqa, vs. , 8 February 2016, at Sheikh Kamal International Stadium, Cox's Bazar.

Best individual bowling performances 6/13 (10 overs) – Sekope Biauniceva, vs. , 20 July 2007, at Independence Park, Port Vila. 6/25 (10 overs) – S. B. Takoviti, vs. , 5 October 2003, at Trans Namib Ground, Windhoek.Fiji Under-19s v Tanzania Under-19s, Africa/East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2003/04 (Group B) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 March 2015. 6/34 (? overs) – Simon Jepsen, vs. , 30 November 1997, at Diocesan Boys' School, Hong Kong. 6/59 (10 overs) – Cakacaka Tikoisuva, vs. , 31 January 2016, at M. A. Aziz Stadium, Chittagong. 5/18 (6 overs) – Tadulala Veitacini, vs. , 28 February 2015, at Horton Park, Blenheim.

Current squad

PlayerDate of birthBattingBowling style Saimoni Tuitoga (c) Right Right-arm medium-fast Josaia Baleicikoibia Right Right-arm medium Petero Cabebula Right Right-arm medium Jack Charters Right Right-arm fast Malakai Cokovaki Right Right-arm medium Jordan Dunham Right Right-arm medium Vaibhav Kapadia Right Right-arm off break Delaimatuku Maraiwai Right — Ledua Qionivoka Right Right-arm medium Samuel Saunokonoko Right — Cakacaka Tikoisuva Right Right-arm medium Peni Vuniwaqa Right Right-arm medium Sosiceni Weleilakeba Right Right-arm medium Tuwai Yabaki Right Right-arm off break

References