The Japanese spinners played a key role, alongside some stunning fielding, as Thailand were beaten by 61-runs in Sano on day two of the Men’s Sano International Tri Series.

Having won the toss and opted to bat Japan were restricted to 110 for nine by some accurate Thai bowling, particularly left-arm spinner Nopphon Senamontree who took three for 19 from his four overs.

However, spinners accounted for six of the first eight wickets to fall as five different bowlers chipped in with wickets.

It was seam that started things off, as Shoma Sugaya-Slater made the breakthrough in his first over on debut, thanks to a stunning run-and-dive from Benjamin Ito-Davis.

Ito-Davis then hit the stumps directly to earn a run-out in the next over before Declan Suzuki (on as Ito-Davis got patched up following his acrobatics in the field) took another sharp catch to dismiss captain Austin Lazarus.

The procession continued as Japan took all ten Thai wickets for just 49 runs inside 15 overs to ultimately earn a comfortable win.

Sabaorish Ravichandran earned the MVP award after top scoring with 24 (27) and collecting two for 11 in his three overs with the ball.

Japan play Cook Islands tomorrow afternoon, following a repeat of the tournament’s first match in the morning as Thailand look for their first win.

Highlights

Men’s Sano International Tri-Series schedule is as follows:

• 7th May (Wednesday) 14:30 – Cook Islands vs Thailand (Cook Islands won by 3 wickets)
• 8th May (Thursday) 14:30 – Japan vs Thailand (Japan won by 61 runs)
• 9th May (Friday) 9:30 – Thailand vs Cook Islands
• 9th May (Friday) 14:30 – Japan vs Cook Islands
• 10th May (Saturday) 9:30 – Japan vs Thailand
• 10th May (Saturday) 14:30 – Japan vs Cook Islands
• 11th May (Sunday) 9:30 – Final

Men’s Japan National Team and Cook Islands International Series schedule is as follows:

• 13th May (Tuesday) 9:30 – Japan vs Cook Islands
• 14th May (Wednesday) 9:30 – Japan vs Cook Islands

Good Luck Team!

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