Sabaorish Ravichandran’s South Kanto Super Kings made an early statement on day one of the Japan Premier League, chasing down North Kanto’s 145 inside 16 overs with six wickets to spare.

The skipper showed control in the Super Kings’ chase, making an unbeaten fifty, with partner Charlie Hara-Hinze continuing his dream week, picking up where he left off at the U19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier with a 36-ball 58, only run out when Ravichandran jetted off for the winning run.

Hara-Hinze had earlier suffocated the Lions with his left-arm orthodox, removing two of the top three of North Kanto and finishing with three for 25 off his four overs. In spite of the defeat, Lions all-rounder Kazumasa Hiratsuka produced a spellbinding knock, blasting 71 not out from just 40 balls in a valiant counter attack.

It was a day that highlighted an impressive level of depth across the playing stocks at the tournament, with draft pick 41 Dost Muhammad (one for 22) of the Super Kings stunning Sano with a sharp delivery to undo Star Player James Bazley. 

On SICG Two a victory over defending champions East Kanto Sunrisers to go with shared points from a morning no-result has put the Kansai Chargers top of the table.

Having watched afternoon opponents East Kanto Sunrisers claim an opening victory over West Kanto Hurricanes in a 15-over affair on SICG One, Declan Suzuki-McComb’s side stifled the Sunrisers top order in a defence of 134 to claim Saturday bragging rights.

The skipper top scored in his side’s batting effort (35), before the Chargers bowling group kept a powerful top five at bay, eventually bowling out the Sunrisers for 108 to win by 26 runs.

In the completed morning fixture, it was Ben Ito-Davis who resurrected East Kanto Sunrisers’ innings alongside senior international mainstay Ibrahim Takahashi (39* off 25 balls), with the pair putting on an unbeaten stand of 99 in just 7.4 overs to go from 39/4 to 138/4 as the truncated innings came to a close.

Ito-Davis’ 55* off 30 balls included four sixes, and the all-rounder went on to take three for seven in three overs to restrict West Kanto Hurricanes to just 111.

Quick-bowling newcomer Shoma Slater showed his wares with a two-wicket haul in the 27-run victory, also claiming Kansai’s Star Player Jack Wood in their afternoon defeat.

Rain on Friday meant the No.2 ground was not ready for the morning fixture between the Chargers and North Kanto Lions, though the tireless efforts from groundsman Mahesh Bopage, staff and competition players yielded three completed matches, on a day where a complete washout looked likely.

Afternoon match winners Kansai and South Kanto meet on ground No.1 in Sunday morning action, with North Kanto and West Kanto hunting for their first victories on No.2.

East Kanto take on North Kanto in the afternoon on No.1, while West Kanto take on South Kanto on No.2

Highlights: 

• Sunrisers vs Hurricanes
• Super Kings vs Lions

Match Summaries: 

• East Kanto Sunrisers, 138/4 (Ito-Davis 55*, Takahashi 39*), beat West Kanto Hurricanes, 111/10 (Ito-Davis 3/7) by 27 runs.
• Kansai Chargers vs North Kanto Lions: Match Abandoned
• South Kanto Super Kings, 146/4 (Hara-Hinze 58, Ravichandran 57*) beat North Kanto Lions, 145/6 (Hiratsuka 71*, Hara-Hinze 3/25), by 6 wickets.
• Kansai Chargers, 134/10 (Suzuki 35, Shirai-Patmore 30), beat East Kanto Sunrisers, 108/10 (Tiwari 3/22, Samad 3/10), by 26 runs