Japan made it two wins in two with a 42-run win over the Maldives at the Men’s ACC Challenger Cup in Thailand.

Winning the toss and batting first, Japan posted 150 for eight in the 20 overs with contributions throughout.

Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake made a typically aggressive 21 but the Maldives had Japan in a wobble at 63 for four in the ninth over.

A partnership of 52 from 42 balls between Sabaorish Ravichandran and Declan Suzuki, who both made 26, played a key role in pushing the final score up to 150.

Japan had two debutants at Kazuma Kato-Stafford and Charlie Hinze, and the former struck a couple of handy boundaries at the end before the latter took the new ball.

Reo Sakurano had already knocked over one of the Maldives opening batters before Hinze got his hands on the ball, but the 15-year-old showed good composure despite not picking up a wicket.

Instead it was the Japanese leg spinners who did the damage, Ravichandran giving a master class in control to collect two for 12 from his four overs and the recalled Makoto Taniyama went one better with three for 12.

Speaking after the game captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming said: “We were better today with lots of people contributing, and we know we can get better still. We’ve seen all 14 players in the squad across these first two games and feel we’re in a good place as a team.”

On the two debutants he added: “It was great to see another two players graduate from our strong under 19s program into the Men’s team and make an immediate impact on debut.”

Ravichandran was named MVP after the match and Japan knows that a win against Singapore on Monday morning will secure the top spot in the group.

The fixtures are scheduled as follows: 

• Thailand vs Japan: Friday 2nd February – 15:50
• Maldives vs Japan: Sunday 4th February – 15:50
• Singapore vs Japan: Tuesday 6th February – 11:30

Knockout matches are scheduled as follows: 

• 5th Place Playoff, 7th Place Playoff: Wednesday 7th February
• Semi-Finals: Friday 9th February
• 3rd Place Playoff, Final: Sunday 11th February

Morning matches commence at 09:30 local time / 11:30 Japan Standard Time, afternoon matches commence at 13:30 local time / 15:50 Japan Standard Time.

All matches will be available to watch live on the Asian Cricket Council YouTube Channel and live scores can be followed on the ACC Match Centre.

ACC Official Social Media

JCA Official Social Media