Adam Leckey took three wickets and followed up with a solid 44 to claim the Player of the Match award in Windhoek yesterday as Ireland squeezed past Japan by four wickets to secure a place in the Super Sixes of the U19 World Cup.

Skipper Olly Riley also grabbed three victims but a spirited effort from the Japan tail delivered 79 runs from the final 10 overs, and a total of 247-9 that would have looked daunting to Ireland at halfway.

A strong powerplay settled the nerves, though, and a 95-run partnership between Leckey and opener Freddie Ogilby, who hit two sixes in his 73, meant the later batsmen could take fewer risks.

Seb Dijkstra used the crease well in making an intelligent 55 not out and after a couple of late scares Bruce Whaley struck a couple of boundaries to get his side over the line with two overs to spare.

“Olly told me not to try to bowl too fast, or do anything special, just bowl stump-to-stump which is my strength,” Leckey said.

“I’ve spent the last three months in Australia trying to add a bit of pace instead of just running in and putting it on a length, and it’s good to see results coming from that.

“Japan put us under pressure with that total but once Freddie got going it made it a lot easier for me come in and rotate the strike. It was a bit squeaky bum there at the end because Japan — credit to them — they fought hard and didn’t drop the towel early.”