Victory Over Hong Kong Secures U19 Premier Cup Semi-Final Spot

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An emphatic victory over the Hong Kong Under 19 team at the ACC Premier Cup secured the Men’s Japan Under 19 National Team a spot in the tournament Semi-Finals. 

After being asked to bat first, Japan made an outstanding start to the final group match in Kuala Lumpur as Nikhil Pol and Aditya Phadke put on 81 for the first wicket, the latter striking two boundaries in the very first over. 

When Pol fell for a well made 33, one became two as Captain Koji Hardgrave-Abe holed out for a second-ball duck which sent shudders down the spines of the Japan fans. 

Phadke remained however, and after two more wickets fell he found an ally in Rithvik Sivakumar with whom he shared a partnership of 78 in just 11.4 overs. 

Sivakumar struck two sixes on his way to a career best 44, from just 46 balls, which really lifted the Japanese run rate, and all the while Phadke continued to work the bowlers around. 

Phadke was eventually removed in the 45th over for an outstanding 118-ball 79, another career best, and it was left to the tail to scrape together a final total of 238 for nine from the 50 overs. 

Winning the game was always going to be enough to send Japan through to the final four, but Hong Kong knew they had a chance if they could score the runs quickly, and 16-year-old sensation Shiv Mathur set about the chase in scintillating fashion, showing why he represented Hong Kong Men at the recent Asian Games. 

Boundaries flew off his bat in the opening exchanges, before opening partner Jayden Botfield also joined in as Hong Kong took 39 off the first five overs. 

Maintaining that scoring speed would always be a challenge, and Kiefer Yamamoto-Lake (two for 23) had Botfield well caught by Shotaro Hiratsuka at midwicket and struck again in the same over as suddenly the complexion changed for Hong Kong. 

For anyone watching Japan play this tournament on the ACC Live Stream, the sight of Charlie Hinze getting through the defences of right handed batters has become an enduring image, and there has been none better than the delivery to knock over the Hong Kong talisman. 

Mathur became the second of four wickets to fall in the space of 19 balls and just nine runs, and Hinze (two for 18) cleaned up the the fourth as well while Aarav Tiwari also burst through a defensive prod; a calamitous runout all derived to have Japan in the ascendancy with Hong Kong 62 for six.  

Hong Kong had recovered to some extent, reaching 106 for six after 21.1 overs when rain forced the players from the field and they never returned, meaning a win for Japan by 57 runs on the DLS method. 

Speaking after the game coach Ardene Ruhode said: “That rush of wickets in the second innings really put us ahead of the game, but the biggest takeaway today was how the boys kept going despite losing the captain cheaply. To make around 240 on a surface our guys don’t play on much, against bowlers of that quality, just shows what our batters are capable of as a unit.”

The win means that of the 16 teams who entered the event, Japan are one of just four remaining and will play tournament favourites Nepal in the Semi-Final on Saturday 21st October. 

A win in that match will secure a place at the Asia Cup in December, while the winner of the 3rd vs 4th play-off on Monday 23rd October will also qualify for the event, meaning all the teams have two chances to get the one more win required. Both Semi Finals and 3rd vs 4th match will all have a reserve day, while the Final will be played on Tuesday 24th October.

Remaining Fixture Schedule:

  • Saturday 21st October: Nepal vs Japan (10:30am JST)
  • Monday 23rd October: 3rd vs 4th (10:30am JST)
  • Tuesday 24th October: Final (10:30am JST)

Follow Live:

Japan Defeat Indonesia at U19 Premier Cup

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The Men’s Japan Under 19 Team recovered from their nerve-shredding victory in the tournament opener on Saturday to record an emphatic win over EAP rivals Indonesia in the ACC Premier Cup being held in Kuala Lumpur. 

Things started well for Japan as captain Koji Hardgrave-Abe won the toss and chose to bowl, and the momentum never left his side. 

Kazuma Kato-Stafford struck in the first over of the match, the first of four victims for just 12 runs as the left arm seamer knocked over the top order on his way to career best figures. 

Kiefer Yamamoto-Lake and Nikhil Pol grabbed a wicket each but it was left-arm spinner Charlie Hinze who ran through the lower order to also finish with four wickets, conceding just two runs in the process. 

After being deemed too young by the ICC to compete in the World Cup Qualifier earlier in the year, Hinze has been a real find for the team, with seven wickets in the tournament already.

Japan took just 15.3 overs to take all ten Indonesian wickets for just 30 runs, then took just 8.1 overs to secure victory.

Debutant Tomo Rear was given a chance at the top of the order, alongside Nihar Parmar who top scored in the contest with 15 not out. Rear was bowled for eight with the scores level, but a nine-wicket win secured in quick time gave the team plenty of opportunity to put their feet up ahead of the crucial match against Hong Kong this Friday. 

Nihar Parmar and Tomo Rear of Japan during the ACC Men’s U19 Premier Cup 2023 Group D match between Japan and Indonesia held at the Bayuemas Oval, Kuala lumpur, Malaysia on the 17th October 2023.
Photo by: Deepak Malik / Creimas / Asian Cricket Council
RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

Speaking after the match Head Coach Dean Ruhode said: “The boys have done everything we have asked of them so far and I’m delighted with them. Today was pretty emphatic but we know there are bigger tests to come and we want to be ready for them.”

JCA Official Social Media：

Cricket included at the Olympic Games LA28

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The International Olympic Council (IOC) Session approved the the proposal by the Organising Committee of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games (“LA28”) to include Cricket in the 2028 Olympic sport program.

We at the JCA welcome the inclusion of Cricket at LA28.

Cricket is said to be the second largest sport in the world due to the size of its fan base and broadcasting rights fees. It is particularly popular in countries and regions with strong traditional ties to the UK, with strong teams and professional leagues on all five continents.

It is said that the broadcasting rights fee per game for the IPL in India has surpassed that of the Premier League in England and is now the second highest after the NFL in the United States.

Since around 2000, the International Cricket Council (“ICC”) has been supporting the growth of the game in other parts of the world, and the game has been growing significantly. As the shorter, more action packed T20 format has become mainstream, cricket has attracted new participants and fans, and its popularity is growing rapidly.

In Japan, “cricket towns” or centres of excellence, are spreading from Kanto to the rest of Japan, including Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture; Akishima City, Tokyo; Sammu City, Chiba Prefecture; Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture; Kaizuka City, Osaka Prefecture; and Watari Town, Miyagi Prefecture, and the number of players is also increasing significantly.

The number of people playing the game has also grown significantly, with Japan’s U19 national team participating in the World Cup, the Sano International Cricket Ground and Kaizuka Municipal Drone and Cricket Field being built to host international matches, the first Japanese professional player, and the establishment of a cross party parliamentary group to study the benefits of cricket.

Through our mission of building bridges that bring people, communities, and nations closer together in order to live a healthier lifestyle and enrich lives through understanding different cultures and lifestyles, we have worked hard to create value through cricket in Japan.

We continue to strive for the sustainable development of cricket by contributing to the development of local communities and mutual understanding through cricket. We are building pathways for people who have been exposed to cricket to enjoy it throughout their lives, and creating a cricket community where diverse people can enjoy the game together.

We have also focused on strengthening our organisation by establishing a governance structure, including an independent board of directors, that eliminates conflicts of interest and emphasises professionalism, and by building a sustainable financial structure.

In 2008, we formulated a long-term strategy which centred on “City of Cricket Development” and launched the first “City of Cricket” project in Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture. 2013 was the first phase of our five-year strategy, “A Shining Sport of Choice“, before the second five-year strategy, “Building a Brighter Future” was released and ran from 2018 to 2022.

During this time we have worked on the development of cricket centres and “Cities of Cricket” beyond the Kanto region as well, and introducing social (modified) cricket, which can be enjoyed easily by first-time players.

Under the current strategy for 2023-2027, “Kaika: Time to Flourish“, we state that: ““By 2027, Cricket will be recognised as a sport flourishing in Japan, attracting new fans, participants and partners through: Competing on the world stage, Reaching new audiences, Creating social value for all, and Providing professional opportunities.”

We look forward to Cricket being part of major multi sport events such as the Olympics, which we hope will open the door wider for new audiences.

Source: https://zakładybukmacherskieonline.com/

JCA Partners with GTN for Embassy Cup

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We are delighted to announce that Global Trust Networks Co., Itd. (GTN), have joined with us as a Embassy Cup Partner.

Headquartered in Toshima-ku, GTN is a company that provides comprehensive lifestyle support to foreign residents in Japan.

Through this partnership, the JCA and GTN will celebrate the diversity of people who enjoy cricket in Japan and support the living environment of foreign residents. The Embassy Cup includes teams representing Australia, Bangladesh, Great Britain, India, Pakistan, Nepal, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

Naoki Miyaji, JCA CEO, commented as follows: “We are very pleased that so many people from overseas will be participating in the Embassy Cup. Cricket is an indispensable part of life for many people who immigrate to Japan from overseas,. We hope that they will be able to enjoy cricket in their spare time and that they will be able to enjoy their life in Japan through cricket. We believe that our partnership with GTN will make them aware of support services that can make their life in Japan even more enjoyable.”

Hiroyuki Goto, Representative Director and President of GTN, commented: “We are very pleased to have this opportunity to work with the Japan Cricket Association. Cricket is loved by many people around the world and is attracting attention as a candidate for an official Olympic sport, and we look forward to its expansion in Japan as the number of foreign residents increases. We are also pleased to be working together to build a new community and increase business opportunities through this partnership and believe it will provide an opportunity to bring value to local sponsors and communities.”

About GTN

With “Making Your Stay in Japan Great” as its vision, GTN has specialized in services for foreign nationals since its inception, providing housing assistance and comprehensive support for living in Japan. GTN offers services centered on its rent guarantor service, including real estate brokerage services, support for living and working in Japan, mobile phone services, credit card services, and more to support foreign nationals, especially those living in Japan. With 70% of its staff consisting of foreign nationals from approximately 20 different countries, GTN handles a variety of cases with an understanding of language and cultural differences.

  • Company name: Global Trust Networks Co., Ltd.
  • Location: Oak Ikebukuro Building 2nd Floor, 1-21-11 Higashi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
  • Representative: Representative Director and President Hiroyuki Goto
  • Business Description: Rent guarantor, real estate agency, lifestyle support business, telecommunications, human resources, credit card, etc. specialized for foreigners
  • URL: https://www.gtn.co.jp

GTN Mission Statement

Over the past 18 years since our establishment, GTN has witnessed profound changes in the business environment, Japanese society, and the global landscape. As we adapt to the evolving times, our business has consistently expanded in collaboration with numerous valued partners.

Throughout this journey, one aspect has remained unwavering – our core philosophy. In the spirit of preserving our enduring principles and celebrating our growth, we have crafted a new mission statement: “Empowering Those Who Empower Japan.” This statement serves as a declaration of our mission, one that aims to transform the vision of an equitable and inclusive Japanese society for foreign nationals into a tangible reality through the diverse range of services we offer. It is also an open invitation to all individuals in Japan to join hands with us and actively contribute to this mission.

One Short – JCL Round 12 & 13 Report

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JCL Round 12

Sabaorish Ravichandran had an all-round performance in his team’s win over the Wyverns.

Tigers’ captain Ravichandran came in at four and scored an impressive 82 off 70 in the first innings with contributions from Anas Mohamed (38) and Ajay Thakur (46). This gave the Tigers a competitive total of 231 despite being bowled out in the last over. Wyverns’ Tomonoshin Oki, took four wickets after missing most of the season.

The Tigers’ frontline bowlers strangled the Wyverns’ batters early, not allowing any easy runs. With the top order getting out cheaply, the lower order had a lot to do and some nice late scores from Nozomi Tomizawa (30) and Kohei Kubota (23*) kept hopes alive but it was a little too late. Ravichandran and Gurman Singh took a few wickets each to bowl the side out for 163 in the 33rd over winning by 68 runs.

A great bowling effort by Max’s Dinesh Sandaruwan led to an impressive bonus-point win over the Rising Stars.

Winning the toss and batting, Hanif Niazi like he has been all season, top-scored for his side making 65. Rising Stars’ bowlers were very economical however not allowing a single Max batter to score freely keeping all of them striking at under 100 strike rate. Opening quick Arman Bhuyan was the pick of the bowlers with figures of three for 26 off his eight as the Rising Stars bowled out Max in the preliminary over for 154.

With not a lot of runs on the board, Max started the second inning firing, dismissing the top four cheaply. Md. Ruhul Kabir fought back scoring 52* but it was Sandaruwan’s day taking six wickets from six overs bowling the Rising Stars out for 104 and completing the 50-run bonus point win to take back first place on the ladder.

Kavin Jinasena took five wickets for the Wombats to complete their bonus point win over the Tokyo Falcons.

In what must have been the shortest game of the year, the usual high-scoring Tokyo Falcons were bowled out in the 17th over for just 61. Jinasena would go on to claim his maiden JCL five-wicket haul as he bowled eight overs for only 26 runs.

It took till the 19th over for the Wombats to chase the total down losing a few wickets along the way. Opening batter Masaki Kawashima would steer the chase with his not-out 26* to complete the seven-wicket bonus point win for the Wombats.

The Men in Blue would complete a bonus point win over the Paddy Foleys to keep their finals hopes alive.

Muhammad Rizwan (44) and Samad Manzoor (30*) were the key contributors with the bat for the Paddy Foleys in the first innings. Men In Blue’s bowlers restricted the side well as legspinner Manav Natarajan took three for 30 off seven overs to bowl out the Paddy Foleys for 176 in the 33rd over.

Needing a bonus point win, the Men in Blue went about the chase quickly. The plan was working but on the other hand, they were also losing regular wickets due to Abdul Jabbar Khan taking six wickets to make it an interesting game. Luckily for the Men in Blue, Saifuddin Raj notched a very calm and steady 39* to chase the total in the 28th over securing the bonus point 3-wicket win.

The Sharks showed a very strong bowling performance to beat the top-of-the-table Sano.

Winning the toss and batting, the Sharks’ third wicket 90-run partnership between Ibrahim Takahashi (63) and Tsuyoshi Takada (42) was the game changer, as the rest of the order fell cheaply. Sano’s Kazumasa Hiratsuka and Ardene Ruhode would take four wickets each to bowl out the Sharks for 147 in the 33rd over.

Excluding Ardene Ruhode who scored an expansive 49, the Sharks’ bowlers were too much for Sano’s batters as they were bowled out for 88. Takahashi would feature again taking four wickets for just six runs as they would bowl out Sano in the 26th over keeping their finals hopes alive with a 59-run win.

JCL Round 13

In the last round of JCL 2023, it was raining centuries as there were still games with plenty to play for in an action-packed final round.

Max’s Hanif Niazi and Wyverns’ Shogo Kimura would both make hundreds in a tight high-scoring battle.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, opener Niazi struck the ball ferociously going on to score 101 off just 68 balls including 12 sixes. Other contributions from Paboda Dassanayake (32) and Dissanayake Malinda (35) helped launch Max’s first innings total to 268 for nine. Ryoya Masaoka took four wickets as he was the pick of the bowlers for the Wyverns.

Wyverns’ two big gun batters Kimura and Wataru Miyauchi, started the innings with a partnership of 89 before Miyauchi fell for 26. Kimura would continue and go on to score his season-best score of 125* including 12 sixes. However, Kimura lost too many partners as Makoto Taniyama would showcase his best bowling figures of the season taking four for 29. Needing 14 runs off the last over, youngster Kazuma Kato-Stafford would limit the Wyverns allowing only seven off the over helping Max win by eight runs and holding the number one spot in the standings looking ahead to the Semi-Finals.

Tigers’ Anil Kumar would go on to score a century to kill Sano’s semi-final hopes.

The Tigers’ batting innings started well with a 55-run partnership between openers Ranjith Mouli (29) and Sachin Thakur (55). This set the platform for Kumar to come to the crease in the 10th over and score an impressive 101* at over a run a ball. This was against a tough Sano bowling lineup who had not let a side score over 200 all season as after 40 overs, the Tigers set a total of 225 for 5.

After losing both openers for naught,  a fightback 65-run partnership between Reo Sakurano-Thomas (43) and Declan Suzuki (31) gave Sano hope again but before things got out of hand, key bowlers Piyush Kumbhare and Sabaorish Ravichandran came into the attack and removed them both. Kazumasa Hiratsuka added some more runs in the middle order which put the pressure back on the Tigers but when he fell at 55, the game was almost well and truly done. 17 runs came off the last over but unfortunately was not quite enough as the Tigers won by three runs and claimed the second spot in the standings as Sano finished fifth on back-to-back years just missing out on a semi-final spot.

The Rangers hammered the Paddy Foleys through Bhutto Umair’s maiden JCL century.

The Rangers started on the back foot after losing a wicket on the first ball of the game. However, this did not affect the rest of the innings as they would score a whopping 352 off the back of Umair’s maiden JCL ton making 104 off 83 balls. Aloysius Chathuranga Sampath added further damage scoring 70 of his own leaving a lot for the Paddy Foleys to chase.

Paddy Foleys started off the chase with hope at 71 for one at the 11-over mark. Waseem Javed scored 42 but other batters could not go on to capitalize as the Rangers took regular wickets and eventually bowled out the side for 164. The massive 188-run bonus point secured third place and a semi-final spot for the Rangers while on the other side, it was a bitterly disappointing season for the Paddy Foleys.

Men in Blue’s bonus point win over the Tokyo Wombats secured them the fourth and final spot in this year’s JCL semi-final.

Needing a bonus point win, Men in Blue won the toss and elected to bowl. Wombats’ captain Muhammad Ali opened the innings with a firm 44 and then Rex Kobayashi played a beautiful innings to score a season-best 70 for his side. The runs stopped flowing however when Men in Blue’s third change bowlers came onto the attack and it was Saurav Bhowmik who took three wickets that assisted his side in bowling out the Wombats for 197.

Needing to chase the total in under 32 overs, Men in Blue’s openers were aggressive from the beginning. Losing a few wickets through the innings did not bother the Men in Blue as they bat deep and it showed as number seven batter Vishal Patel struck 41* off 20 to chase the total in the 23rd over. The five-wicket win was enough to send the team to the semi-final in back-to-back years hoping for a better result this year. As for the Wombats, the same season from 2022 they finished in 10th place.

The Alpha Quashers win a close one against a shorthanded Chiba Sharks.

With nothing to lose for both sides, the Alpha Quashers had the early advantage having the Sharks four for 19 early. The Alpha Quashers’ bowling was too much as figures of three for 9 from Venkatesan Permalsamy helped the side bowl out the Sharks for 102 in the 35th over.

The Sharks’ bowlers were up for the challenge to defend the low total. Opening quick Rui Matsumura knocked off the opening three batters but a steady Manoj Subramani helped ease the tension of the chase scoring a not-out 29* before rain interrupted the game. The Alpha Quashers came out on top via the Duckworth-Lewis system and won the game by four wickets. The Chiba Sharks and the Alpha Quahsers would finish the season sixth and seventh respectively which were slight improvements from the previous year.

After being winless in the previous season, the Rising Stars finished off the year with their fourth win of the season over the Tokyo Falcons.

Md Alamgir has had a great season for the Rising Stars scoring yet another half-century in their final game of the season. After he fell for 71, Falcons’ Manish Kapil shined with his bowling, taking five wickets and cleaning up the tail to bowl the Rising Stars out for 205 in the 39th over.

It wasn’t the Falcons’ season as they struggled to stay in and build partnerships. Alamgir was the top performer this game as he added four wickets to the 71 he made in the first innings to bowl the Falcons out in the 32nd over. The 104-run win capped off a much improved Rising Stars season while after making the semi-finals last season it was very much a JCL season to forget for the Falcons.

Season’s Points Table:

https://cricclubs.com/cricketorjp/viewPointsTable.do?league=424&clubId=21278

Japan Stun Hosts Malaysia in Asia Cup Qualifier Opener

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The Men’s Japan Under 19 team won a nail-biting contest against hosts Malaysia in their first match of the ACC Premier Cup.

With only the top team in the group of four going through to the semi finals, and the top three teams overall qualifying for the Asia Cup, a single loss could be decisive, but Japan showed immense fortitude to squeeze home by just six runs in Kuala Lumpur.

After Malaysia won the toss and choose to bowl, Aditya Phadke (39) combined with captain Koji Hardgrave-Abe in a stand of 91 for the second wicket.

Hardgrave-Abe brought up his half century with a six and was eventually out for a well made 68.

Malaysia seized the initiative at that point as Arif Yusof ripped through the middle order to figure with figures of five for 37 as Malaysia bowled Japan all out for 169.

Things started well for Japan as Kiefer Yamamoto-Lake struck in the second over of the innings, before Malaysia had a rebuild of their own.

It took wickets in successive balls by Kazuma Kato-Stafford to prize the opening, at which point debutant spinners Charlie Hinze and Hugo Kelly combined to take five wickets between them to turn the game on its head.

Malaysia crept towards the target with the ninth wicket falling with just 12 runs needed, but it was Hinze who had the final say grabbing his third wicket to go alongside a stunning catch and runout to mark a memorable first outing in Japan colours.

The team next take on Indonesia on Tuesday 17th October.

JCA Official Social Media：

Premium Tickets for Embassy Cup 2023 on Sale

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*Please see here for full details of the Embassy Cup 2023.

This year we are delighted to be working alongside JTB in providing a premium service for certain sections of the Sano International Cricket Ground. (General admission remains free)

With the Embassy Cup as the biggest domestic festival of cricket in Japan, this is a unique opportunity to secure the best seats in the house for what should be a fantastic weekend of activity, both on and off the field. 

Tickets, which can be purchased by clicking here, are split into two categories. There are the following four sub-categories in the first category, “Registration”: 

Registration:

  • ① Bench seats in the Grandstands: 1 seat 1,500 yen
  • ② Group seats in the Grandstands: 1 section (up to 50 people) ¥55,000 
  • ③ Glamping Tents: 1 group (up to 8 people) 50,000 yen
  • ④VIP seats: 1 group (up to 15 people) 75,000 yen (available only for the 29th of October)
  • *③ and ④ include all-you-can-drink

Please see here for more details: 

There is another category “Optional Tour” which includes a bus trip from Tokyo station to the SICG, a dedicated viewing area, opportunity to meet the Japan players, and a trip to the Ashikaga Flower Park to see the “Garden of Illuminated Flowers” before returning to Tokyo station.

Optional Tour: 13,000 yen

Please see here for more details:

“True Colours” Campaign Launched

Throughout the weekend, we wish to encourage visitors to proudly show their support for their choice of team on the field by dressing in team colours. This could be through replica shirts (of any sport!) or simply wearing the colour that is associated with the nation. 

We hope to see many bright colours and enthusiastic supporters all around the venue across the two days. 

Chosen Charities

On Saturday 28th we will be raising money for our two chosen charities by running a raffle with prizes on offer. The charities are as follows: 

  • Yoshimizu Kodomo Shokudo – Chokotto

This is a local children’s charity near the SICG which provides meals at a very low price for children once a month. 

  • Mirai No Mori

This is a not-for-profit organisation that creates life-changing outdoor programs for abused, neglected, and orphaned youths in Japan, supporting their growth into happy and successful young adults. For more information you can visit their website at: https://mirai-no-mori.jp/

For the full schedule of the weekend please check the Events page.

Cricket one step closer to inclusion at the Olympic Games LA28

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The Organising Committee of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games (“LA28”) have proposed Cricket along with Baseball/Softball, Flag Football, Lacrosse and Squash for potential inclusion in the 2028 Olympic sport program.

The IOC is expected to make a decision on the proposal at the IOC Session scheduled to be held on the 15th to the 17th of October.

We at the JCA welcome the move towards including cricket at LA28 and look forward to an official decision at the IOC Session.

Cricket is said to be the second largest sport in the world due to the size of its fan base and broadcasting rights fees. It is particularly popular in countries and regions with strong traditional ties to the UK, with strong teams and professional leagues on all five continents.

It is said that the broadcasting rights fee per game for the IPL in India has surpassed that of the Premier League in England and is now the second highest after the NFL in the United States.

Since around 2000, the International Cricket Council (“ICC”) has been supporting the growth of the game in other parts of the world, and the game has been growing significantly. Additionally, the rise of best non UKGC casinos has provided new platforms for fans to engage with cricket through online betting, further enhancing the sport’s appeal. As the shorter, more action-packed T20 format has become mainstream, cricket has attracted new participants and fans, and its popularity is growing rapidly.

In Japan, “cricket towns” or centres of excellence, are spreading from Kanto to the rest of Japan, including Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture; Akishima City, Tokyo; Sammu City, Chiba Prefecture; Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture; Kaizuka City, Osaka Prefecture; and Watari Town, Miyagi Prefecture, and the number of players is also increasing significantly.

The number of people playing the game has also grown significantly, with Japan’s U19 national team participating in the World Cup, the Sano International Cricket Ground and Kaizuka Municipal Drone and Cricket Field being built to host international matches, the first Japanese professional player, and the establishment of a cross party parliamentary group to study the benefits of cricket.

Through our mission of building bridges that bring people, communities, and nations closer together in order to live a healthier lifestyle and enrich lives through understanding different cultures and lifestyles, we have worked hard to create value through cricket in Japan.

We continue to strive for the sustainable development of cricket by contributing to the development of local communities and mutual understanding through cricket. We are building pathways for people who have been exposed to cricket to enjoy it throughout their lives, and creating a cricket community where diverse people can enjoy the game together.

We have also focused on strengthening our organisation by establishing a governance structure, including an independent board of directors, that eliminates conflicts of interest and emphasises professionalism, and by building a sustainable financial structure.

In 2008, we formulated a long-term strategy which centred on “City of Cricket Development” and launched the first “City of Cricket” project in Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture. 2013 was the first phase of our five-year strategy, “A Shining Sport of Choice“, before the second five-year strategy, “Building a Brighter Future” was released and ran from 2018 to 2022.

During this time we have worked on the development of cricket centres and “Cities of Cricket” beyond the Kanto region as well, and introducing social (modified) cricket, which can be enjoyed easily by first-time players.

Under the current strategy for 2023-2027, “Kaika: Time to Flourish“, we state that: ““By 2027, Cricket will be recognised as a sport flourishing in Japan, attracting new fans, participants and partners through: Competing on the world stage, Reaching new audiences, Creating social value for all, and Providing professional opportunities.”

Report｜JCL T20 Finals Day

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The Tokyo Falcons are the winners of the Second JCL T20 competition after beating the Tokyo Titans in the final. 

16 teams competed in a four-group round-robin fixture that led to the top two teams in each group making it to the quarter-finals. The Semi-Finals and finals were played on the same day and it was teams; Kawasaki Knight Riders, Rising Stars, Tokyo Falcons, and the Tokyo Titans who were competing to win the title.

In the Semi-Final stage, the Falcons came up against the Kawasaki Knight Riders in a reduced 12-over game. KKR made 87 in the first innings off the back of a good opening partnership followed by Vinay Iyer scoring a quick 28 off 18. In reply, the chase looked to be a close one until Sarfraz Petkar came in and smashed 27 off seven balls to chase the total in the 11th over. The six-wicket win booked the Falcons’ ticket into the final which would be played in the afternoon.

In the other Semi, the Tokyo Titans beat the Rising Stars in a 15-over reduced game. Navjeet Thakur took four wickets off just three overs to spearhead his team’s bowling attack bowling out the Rising Stars for 90 out in the preliminary over. In the chase, Titans’ opener Ameya Keshkamat had a not-out 31* to lead the chase and knock off the total in the 12th over winning by seven wickets. 

The Titans got the better of the Falcons during the group stage but it was a different story in the final as the Falcons bowled out the Titans for 88 in the first innings. Manish Kapil took three wickets in nine balls to bowl out the side in the 19th over to set up the second-inning chase.

The Titans looked hopeful early having the Falcons down three for 39 in the ninth over making for an interesting game. Fortunately for the Falcons, a game-winning fourth wicket 60-run partnership between Siddharth Cb (32*) and the game’s MVP Kuldeep Bisht (36*) put the game to rest winning by seven wickets and sparking huge celebrations. 

JCL T20 round-robin points table: https://cricclubs.com/cricketorjp/viewPointsTable.do?league=453&clubId=21278

Fighting Japan Defeated by Hong Kong at Asian Games

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The Men’s Japan National Team were knocked out of the 19th Asian Games by Hong Kong in Hangzhou, China.

In a tight contest, Japan showed incredible courage and fight to take the game deep against a side ranked considerably higher.

Batting first, Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake got Japan off to a flier, striking a career-best 60 from just 36 balls.

At the time of his dismissal Japan looked set for a score in excess of 160, and with captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (32 off 25 balls) at the other end, Japan still had plenty of reason to be confident.

Hong Kong boast plenty of experience and quality in their team, and that showed as they surged back into the game in the final six overs, bowling Japan all out for 127 with an over to spare.

Although not as many runs as Japan would have liked, the team was determined to not give anything away against a talented Hong Kong batting line up.

Ibrahim Takahashi broke the opening partnership of 29 by pinning Mohammad Khan lbw, which brought Babar Hayat to the crease in tandem with captain Nizakat Khan.

The senior batters looked comfortable until Kohei Kubota struck with his very first ball, clean bowling captain Nizakat and suddenly there were nerves in the Hong Kong dugout.

Makoto Taniyama struck next, getting the huge wicket of Hayat for 30, and Hong Kong suddenly slipped to 95 for five when Reo Sakurano had Shiv Margie caught for 20 and acrobatically ran out Akbar Khan.

Nasrulla Rana would ultimately prove the difference between the teams, as his 36* from 18 balls took the team home with seven balls to spare and book Hong Kong’s place in the quarter finals.

For Japan the defeat brought both disappointment and pride as the team showed they can stand toe-to-toe with one of the most well resourced associate nations.

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