{"id":25926,"date":"2024-02-03T15:40:58","date_gmt":"2024-02-03T06:40:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cricket.or.jp\/?p=25926"},"modified":"2024-02-04T19:36:42","modified_gmt":"2024-02-04T10:36:42","slug":"%e3%83%ac%e3%83%9d%e3%83%bc%e3%83%88%ef%bd%9c%e3%82%bf%e3%82%a4-%e5%af%be-%e6%97%a5%e6%9c%ac%ef%bc%88acc%e7%94%b7%e5%ad%90%e3%83%81%e3%83%a3%e3%83%ac%e3%83%b3%e3%82%b8%e3%83%a3%e3%83%bc%e3%82%ab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cricket.or.jp\/en\/%e3%83%ac%e3%83%9d%e3%83%bc%e3%83%88%ef%bd%9c%e3%82%bf%e3%82%a4-%e5%af%be-%e6%97%a5%e6%9c%ac%ef%bc%88acc%e7%94%b7%e5%ad%90%e3%83%81%e3%83%a3%e3%83%ac%e3%83%b3%e3%82%b8%e3%83%a3%e3%83%bc%e3%82%ab\/","title":{"rendered":"Sakurano Stars as Japan Beat Thailand"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

The men\u2019s Japan national team won their opening match in the ACC Challenger Cup, defeating hosts Thailand by 45 runs.<\/p>\n

The win was set up by a bombastic 74 from 48 balls by captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, who was ably supported by Alex Shirai-Patmore (31) in a partnership of 90 from 67 balls.<\/p>\n

A total of 166\/6 from 20 overs appeared a par score on a high-scoring ground and Japan knew they would need to fight in the second innings.<\/p>\n

Thailand came hard in the opening overs, scoring 45 from the first three as Chaloemwong Chatpaisan hammered six boundaries and a six in his 31 from 12 balls.<\/p>\n

The match swung back in Japan\u2019s favour when Reo Sakurano took three wickets in the fifth over.<\/p>\n

Sakurano would ultimately finish with Japan\u2019s best-ever bowling figures in T20 Internationals, taking six for 26 and passing his own previous best on debut in 2022.<\/p>\n

Ibby Takahashi chipped in as well, bowling tight lines and taking three for 10 as Japan bowled Thailand all out for 120 in the 17th over.<\/p>\n

Speaking after the game Kadowaki-Fleming said: \u201cIt\u2019s great to start with a win and the team stayed calm when the Thai batters started so well. There\u2019s things to work on but it was enjoyable to be out there as a team again and hope the fans back home were entertained.\u201d<\/p>\n

Player of the Match Sakurano said: \u201cI\u2019ve probably bowled better, but of course it\u2019s great to help the team get a win. Now it\u2019s on to the next one.\u201d<\/p>\n

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