The Men’s Japan National Team were indebted to the all-round brilliance of Sabaorish Ravichandran to get them home by two wickets against the Cook Islands in Game One of the two match series in Sano.
After winning the toss and batting, the visitors made a positive start and raced to 42 for one after five overs before some excellent bowling from Benjamin Ito-Davis (one for 14 from four overs) and Abdul Samad (two for 13) began to rein them in.
Ravichandran came on to bowl relatively later than usual and struck in his second over and went on to collect four for 16 to grind the Cook Islands down to end 104 for eight from their 20 overs.
Again the visitors made the better start to the innings, striking twice in the first over and Japan were reeling at 11 for three when Ravichandran came in, which quickly became 20 for four.
However a fifth T20 International half century, made as wickets continued to fall around him, showed the rest of the team how to construct an innings and, although he was dismissed with four still needed, Japan were able to get over the line with two wickets remaining.
The final match of the series takes place on Wednesday.
Men’s Japan National Team and Cook Islands International Series schedule is as follows:
- 13th May (Tuesday) 9:30 – Japan vs Cook Islands (Japan won by 2 wickets)
- 14th May (Wednesday) 9:30 – Japan vs Cook Islands
Highlights
Men’s National Team Partner
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