Super Kings: Unbeaten

South Kanto Super Kings and East Kanto Sunrisers both collected two wins on the second day of the Japan Premier League to put themselves in a strong position to reach the final.

The Super Kings were twice indebted to captain Sabaorish Ravichandran for his runs, and seam bowler Kohei Kubota for his wickets.

In Round Three Ravichandran’s 44* off 34 balls enabled his team to successfully chase the a total of 111 after Kubota’s 3/15 had helped bowl the West Kanto Hurricanes all out. A win by six wickets was the perfect start to the day for the Super Kings.

Takada: Captains Innings

Over on SICG Two the Sunrisers recoverd from a major wobble against the Kansai Chargers thanks to a captains innings from Tsuyoshi Takada and a pugnacious knock from Abhipray Dewan.

The Chargers struggled in their first matches in the JPL, managing just 101/6, although they had a spring in their step when restricting the Sunrisers to 13/3 in the opening exchanges. However Takada (34) and Dewan (47*) combined to steady the Sunrisers with a partnership of 77 to take the team home by five wickets.

In Round Four Ravichandran was at it again with 52 form 33 balls to propel his team to 172/6, although it was a run-a-ball 61 from Alex Patmore anchored the innings and was the highest individual score of the tournament so far.

North Kanto: Battling

South Kanto were rampant in defending their total as Kubota’s 3/13 and 3/24 for Hiroshige Murakawa ran through the Chargers to earn a huge win by 116 runs and virtually confirm their place in the final.

The Sunrisers and North Kanto Lions then played out a tight game on SICG Two that went to the final over. The defending champions started well as Dhugal Bedingfield’s 51 laid a solid platform before the Lions came charging back. A hat-trick for Ali Raza derailed the innings and his 4/13 meant the Sunrisers were all out for 141 after just 18 overs.

In the chase Hanif Khan (28) and Prabath Dhanushka (35) put on 56 for the third wicket and the game looked in the balance. Neel Date (2/21) dismissed them both before Naveen Negi, with 14 needed off the final over, held his nerve to give his team an eight-run win.

Kansai: Learning Experience

All of that means that the South Kanto Super Kings have three wins from three and six points while the East Kanto Sunrisers have two wins from three and four points. It’s East meets West as the Sunrisers clash with the Hurricanes in Round Four tomorrow morning; West Kanto with two points after one win and one loss.

Kansai Chargers and North Kanto Lions are each on two losses and they clash first thing tomorrow morning in the streamed match on SICG One.