View source for Fiji national under-19 cricket team

{{short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox cricket team
| name = Fiji Under-19s
| image = [[File:Flag of Fiji.svg|200px]]
| image_size = 
| caption = 
| nickname = 
| association = [[Cricket Fiji]]
| icc_region = [[ICC East Asia-Pacific|East Asia-Pacific]]
| coach = [[Shane Jurgensen]]
| captain = [[Saimoni Tuitoga]]
| first_match = {{flagicon|FIJ}} '''Fiji''' vs. {{cr19-rt|SIN}}<br/>([[Hong Kong]]; 30 November 1997)
| asofdate = 9 April 2016
}}
The '''Fiji national under-19 cricket team''' represents the [[Fiji|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 Cricket Trophy|EAP Under-19 Trophy]], against other teams in the [[ICC East Asia-Pacific]] (EAP) region. Fiji won the [[2015 EAP Under-19 Cricket Trophy|2015 edition]] of the tournament, and consequently qualified for the [[2016 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup|2016 Under-19 World Cup]], becoming the first team to qualify from the region after [[Papua New Guinea Under-19 cricket team|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 (1855)|HMS ''Pearl'']] introduced the sport to [[Levuka]]. It quickly became popular amongst the [[Fijians|native Fijians]], and the [[Fiji national cricket team|Fijian national side]] became regular visitors to Australia and New Zealand, playing a number of [[first-class cricket|first-class]] matches. The [[Fiji Cricket Association]] gained [[Associate membership of the ICC|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 national cricket team|Sri Lanka]]) and the [[United States national cricket team|United States]].<ref>[[Philip Snow]] (1974). [http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152488.html "A century in the Fiji islands"] – ''[[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack]]''. Retrieved from [[ESPNcricinfo]], 28 February 2015.</ref>

Organised under-19 international cricket dates only from the 1970s – the first under-19 [[Test cricket|Test]] and [[One Day International]] (ODI) were played in 1974 and 1976, respectively,<ref>[http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/337071.html Records / Under-19s Youth Test matches / Team records / List of match results (by year)] – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 February 2015.</ref><ref>[http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/337072.html Records / Under-19s Youth One-Day Internationals / Team records / List of match results (by year)] – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 February 2015.</ref> while the first [[Under-19 Cricket World Cup|Under-19 World Cup]] was held [[1988 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup|in 1988]].<ref>[http://www.espncricinfo.com/u19-worldcup/content/story/232496.html "The Under-19 World Cup: a brief history"] – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 February 2015.</ref> 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 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup|1998 World Cup]].<ref name="list">[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Teams/1/1988/Other_Matches.html Other matches played by Fiji Under-19s] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402095518/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Teams/1/1988/Other_Matches.html |date=2 April 2015 }} – CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 February 2015.</ref> Their first game was a 134-run loss to [[Singapore Under-19 cricket team|Singapore]], which was followed by nine-wicket losses to [[Papua New Guinea Under-19 cricket team|Papua New Guinea]] and [[Hong Kong Under-19 cricket team|Hong Kong]].<ref>[http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1997-98/OTHERS+ICC/HKG_LOCAL/YAC_RESU.html Youth Asia Cup] – Hong Kong Cricket Association. Retrieved from ESPNcricinfo, 28 February 2015.</ref>

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 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup|2000 World Cup]]),<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Seasons/SPORE/1999_SPORE_Youth_Asia_Cup_1999.html Youth Asia Cup 1999] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516144050/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Seasons/SPORE/1999_SPORE_Youth_Asia_Cup_1999.html |date=16 May 2015 }} – CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 February 2015.</ref> but the following year hosted [[2001 EAP Under-19 Cricket Trophy|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 tournament|round-robin]], with Fiji winless from their four matches.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/Tables/4/East_Asia-Pacific_Under-19_Championship_2001-02.html East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2001/02 Table] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 February 2015.</ref> However, in Fiji's first game against Hong Kong, [[Colin Rika]] score 129 runs opening the batting, the team's first recorded [[Century (cricket)|century]],<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/72/72811.html Fiji Under-19s v Hong Kong Under-19s], East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2001/02 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 February 2015.</ref> and a tournament record until surpassed by [[Vanuatu Under-19 cricket team|Vanuatu's]] [[Andrew Mansale]] at the [[2007 EAP Under-19 Cricket Trophy|2007 tournament]].<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/101/101351.html 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.</ref>

No standalone EAP qualifying tournament was held for the [[2004 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup|2004]] and [[2006 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup|2006 World Cup]]s, 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 ICC Africa/East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship|2003 combined tournament]], hosted by [[Namibia]], but did win their first competitive match, defeating [[Tanzania Under-19 cricket team|Tanzania]] by two wickets.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/101/101341.html Fiji Under-19s v Tanzania Under-19s], Africa/East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2003/04 (Group B) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 February 2015.</ref> However, they had earlier lost their opening match against [[Kenya Under-19 cricket team|Kenya]] by 320 runs, conceding 356 runs before being bowled out for 36.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/101/101337.html Fiji Under-19s v Kenya Under-19s], Africa/East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2003/04 (Group B) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 March 2015.</ref> At the [[2005 ICC Africa/East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship|2005 combined tournament]], Fiji lost all its group matches, but defeated [[Nigeria Under-19 cricket team|Nigeria]] by two wickets in the eighth-place playoff, having bowled them out for 46.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/101/101373.html Fiji Under-19s v Nigeria Under-19s], Africa/East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2005 (7th Place Play-off) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 March 2015.</ref>

The [[2007 EAP Under-19 Cricket Trophy|2007 EAP Under-19 Trophy]], the first since 2001, included [[Japan Under-19 cricket team|Japan]] and Vanuatu for the first time,<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/6/East_Asia-Pacific_Under-19_Championship_2007.html East Asia-Pacific Championship 2007] – CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 March 2015.</ref> 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),<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Teams/4/4635/Other_Matches.html Other matches played by Japan under-19s] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001013447/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Teams/4/4635/Other_Matches.html |date=1 October 2015 }} – CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 February 2015.</ref> 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.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/124/124377.html Fiji Under-19s v Japan Under-19s], East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2007 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 February 2015.</ref> A writer for [[ESPNcricinfo]] described Rika's innings as "what must rank as one of the most breathtaking knocks in the history of age-group cricket".<ref>Sami-ul-Hasan (20 July 2007). [http://www.espncricinfo.com/other/content/current/story/302880.html "Fiji captain Josefa Rika hammers scintillating 257"] – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 March 2015.</ref>

==Tournament history==
===Youth Asia Cup===
*1997: group stages

===EAP Under-19 Trophy===
*[[2001 EAP Under-19 Cricket Trophy|2001]]: 3rd place (3 teams) – ''hosts''
*[[2007 EAP Under-19 Cricket Trophy|2007]]: 3rd place (4 teams)
*[[2009 EAP Under-19 Cricket Trophy|2009]]: 3rd place (5 teams)
*[[2011 EAP Under-19 Cricket Trophy|2011]]: 4th place (5 teams)
*[[2013 EAP Under-19 Cricket Trophy|2013]]: 3rd place (4 teams)
*[[2015 EAP Under-19 Cricket Trophy|2015]]: 1st place (4 teams)

===ICC Africa/EAP Under-19 Championship===
*[[2003 ICC Africa/East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship|2003]]: 8th place (8 teams)
*[[2005 ICC Africa/East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship|2005]]: 7th place (8 teams)

===ICC Under-19 World Cup===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
|-
! style="color:black; background:lightblue;" colspan=9|Fiji's U19 World Cup record
|-
! width="90" |Year
! Result
! width="40" |{{Abbr|Pos|Position}}
! width="40" |{{Abbr|№|Number of teams}}
! width="20" |{{Abbr|Pld|Games played}}
! width="20" |{{Abbr|W|Won}}
! width="20" |{{Abbr|L|Lost}}
! width="20" |{{Abbr|T|Drawn}}
! width="20" |{{Abbr|NR|No result}}
|-
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[1988 Youth Cricket World Cup|1988]]
| colspan=8 rowspan=3| ''Did not enter''
|-
| {{flagicon|RSA}} [[1998 Under-19 Cricket World Cup|1998]]
|-
| {{flagicon|LKA}} [[2000 Under-19 Cricket World Cup|2000]]
|-
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[2002 Under-19 Cricket World Cup|2002]]
| colspan=8 rowspan=7| ''Did not qualify''
|-
| {{flagicon|BAN}} [[2004 Under-19 Cricket World Cup|2004]]
|-
| {{flagicon|LKA}} [[2006 Under-19 Cricket World Cup|2006]]
|-
| {{flagicon|MYS}} [[2008 Under-19 Cricket World Cup|2008]]
|-
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[2010 Under-19 Cricket World Cup|2010]]
|-
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[2012 Under-19 Cricket World Cup|2012]]
|-
| {{flagicon|UAE}} [[2014 Under-19 Cricket World Cup|2014]]
|-
| {{flagicon|BAN}} [[2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup|2016]]
| First round
| 16th
| 16
| 6
| 0
| 6
| 0
| 0
|-
| {{flagicon|NZL}} [[2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup|2018]]
| colspan=8 rowspan=2| ''Did not qualify''
|-
| {{flagicon|RSA}} [[2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup|2020]]
|-
!Total
!
!
!
!6
!0
!6
!0
!0
|}

==Team records==
:''Last updated 8 February 2016''.

;Highest team scores
*440/8 (50 overs), vs. {{cr19|JPN}}, 20 July 2007, at Independence Park, [[Port Vila]].<ref name="Fiji Under-19s v Japan Under-19s">[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/124/124377.html Fiji Under-19s v Japan Under-19s], East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2007 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 March 2015.</ref>
*294/7 (50 overs), vs. {{cr19|SAM}}, 28 February 2015, at [[Horton Park, Blenheim|Horton Park]], [[Blenheim, New Zealand|Blenheim]].
*222/9 (50 overs), vs. {{cr19|HKG}}, 21 August 2001, at Nadi Muslim College, [[Nadi, Fiji|Nadi]].<ref name="cricketarchive.com">[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/72/72811.html Fiji Under-19s v Hong Kong Under-19s], East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2001/02 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 March 2015.</ref>
*190/9 (50 overs), vs. {{cr19|IDN}}, 10 February 2011, at Ron McMullin Oval, [[Maroochydore]].<ref name="CricketArchive 2015">[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/330/330979.html Fiji Under-19s v Indonesia Under-19s], East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2010/11 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 March 2015.</ref>
*171 (31.3 overs), vs. {{cr19|SCO}}, 24 January 2016, at [[Fatullah Osmani Stadium]], [[Fatullah]].

;Lowest team scores
*36 (18 overs), vs. {{cr19|KEN}}, 4 October 2003, at Police Sports Club, [[Windhoek]].<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/101/101337.html Fiji Under-19s v Kenya Under-19s], Africa/East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2003/04 (Group B) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 March 2015.</ref>
*49 (30.4 overs), vs. {{cr19|RSA}}, 22 January 2016, at [[Fatullah Osmani Stadium]], [[Fatullah]].
*54 (26.1 overs), vs. {{cr19|VAN}}, 3 July 2013, at John Blanck Oval, [[Maroochydore]].<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/554/554079.html Fiji Under-19s v Vanuatu Under-19s], East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2013 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 March 2015.</ref>
*62 (24 overs), vs. {{cr19|PNG}}, 22 August 2001, at Nadi Muslim College, [[Nadi, Fiji|Nadi]].<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/72/72825.html Fiji Under-19s v Papua New Guinea Under-19s], East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2001/02 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 March 2015.</ref>
*63 (33.2 overs), vs {{cr19|PNG}}, 7 February 2011, at John Blanck Oval, [[Maroochydore]].<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/330/330976.html Fiji Under-19s v Papua New Guinea Under-19s], East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2010/11 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 March 2015.</ref>

;Highest individual scores
*257 (145 balls) – [[Joseph Rika]], vs. {{cr19|JPN}}, 20 July 2007, at Independence Park, [[Port Vila]].<ref name="Fiji Under-19s v Japan Under-19s"/>
*129 (156 balls) – [[Colin Rika]], vs. {{cr19|HKG}}, 21 August 2001, at Nadi Muslim College, [[Nadi, Fiji|Nadi]].<ref name="cricketarchive.com"/>
*100 (92 balls) – [[Delaimatuku Maraiwai]], vs. {{cr19|SAM}}, 28 February 2015, at [[Horton Park, Blenheim|Horton Park]], [[Blenheim, New Zealand|Blenheim]].
*89* (89 balls) – [[Noa Acawei]], vs. {{cr19|IDN}}, 10 February 2011, at Ron McMullin Oval, [[Maroochydore]].<ref name="CricketArchive 2015"/>
*80 (123 balls) – [[Peni Vuniwaqa]], vs. {{cr19|SCO}}, 8 February 2016, at [[Sheikh Kamal International Stadium, Cox's Bazar]].

;Best individual bowling performances
*6/13 (10 overs) – [[Sekope Biauniceva]], vs. {{cr19|JPN}}, 20 July 2007, at Independence Park, [[Port Vila]].<ref name="Fiji Under-19s v Japan Under-19s"/>
*6/25 (10 overs) – [[S. B. Takoviti]], vs. {{cr19|TAN}}, 5 October 2003, at [[Trans Namib Ground]], [[Windhoek]].<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/101/101341.html Fiji Under-19s v Tanzania Under-19s], Africa/East Asia-Pacific Under-19 Championship 2003/04 (Group B) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 March 2015.</ref>
*6/34 (? overs) – [[Simon Jepsen]], vs. {{cr19|SIN}}, 30 November 1997, at [[Diocesan Boys' School]], [[Hong Kong]].
*6/59 (10 overs) – Cakacaka Tikoisuva, vs. {{cr19|WIN}}, 31 January 2016, at [[M. A. Aziz Stadium]], [[Chittagong]].
*5/18 (6 overs) – [[Tadulala Veitacini]], vs. {{cr19|SAM}}, 28 February 2015, at [[Horton Park, Blenheim|Horton Park]], [[Blenheim, New Zealand|Blenheim]].

==Current squad==

{| border="0" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" style="width:90%;"
|- style="background:#aad0ff;"
!width=20%|Player
!width=18%|Date of Birth
!width=6%|Batting
!width=20%|Bowling style
|-
| [[Saimoni Tuitoga]] ([[captain (cricket)|c]]) || {{Birth date and age2|2016|01|27|1997|04|27|df=y}} || Right || Right-arm [[Fast bowling|medium-fast]]
|-
| [[Josaia Baleicikoibia]] || {{Birth date and age2|2016|01|27|1997|06|30|df=y}} || Right || Right-arm [[Fast bowling|medium]]
|-
| [[Petero Cabebula]] || {{Birth date and age2|2016|01|27|1999|01|19|df=y}} || Right || Right-arm [[Fast bowling|medium]]
|-
| [[Jack Charters]] || {{Birth date and age2|2016|01|27|1999|04|20|df=y}} || Right || Right-arm [[Fast bowling|fast]]
|-
| [[Malakai Cokovaki]] || {{Birth date and age2|2016|01|27|1998|11|8|df=y}} || Right || Right-arm [[Fast bowling|medium]]
|-
| [[Jordan Dunham]] || {{Birth date and age2|2016|01|27|1997|09|12|df=y}} || Right || Right-arm [[Fast bowling|medium]]
|-
| [[Vaibhav Kapadia]] || {{Birth date and age2|2016|01|27|1998|02|6|df=y}} || Right || Right-arm [[off break]]
|-
| [[Delaimatuku Maraiwai]] || {{Birth date and age2|2016|01|27|1997|05|22|df=y}} || Right || —
|-
| [[Ledua Qionivoka]] || {{Birth date and age2|2016|01|27|1997|08|2|df=y}} || Right || Right-arm [[Fast bowling|medium]]
|-
| [[Samuel Saunokonoko]] || {{Birth date and age2|2016|01|27|1998|01|27|df=y}} || Right || —
|-
| Cakacaka Tikoisuva || {{Birth date and age2|2016|01|27|1997|05|31|df=y}} || Right || Right-arm [[Fast bowling|medium]]
|-
| [[Peni Vuniwaqa]] || {{Birth date and age2|2016|01|27|1997|09|29|df=y}} || Right || Right-arm [[Fast bowling|medium]]
|-
| [[Sosiceni Weleilakeba]] || {{Birth date and age2|2016|01|27|1997|09|21|df=y}} || Right || Right-arm [[Fast bowling|medium]]
|-
| [[Tuwai Yabaki]] || {{Birth date and age2|2016|01|27|2000|01|1|df=y}} || Right || Right-arm [[off break]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{National sports teams of Fiji}}
{{Oceanian under-19 cricket teams}}

[[Category:Under-19 cricket teams]]
[[Category:National sports teams of Fiji|Cricket, under 19]]
[[Category:Fiji in international cricket]]
[[Category:1997 establishments in Fiji]]
[[Category:Cricket clubs established in 1997]]