JAPAN RESIST THAILAND’S ALL ACTION APPROACH TO WIN BY 46 RUNS

After the morning’s run feast between Singapore and Maldives, Japan and Thailand will be keen to impress as the other two teams in Group B. Thailand won the toss and elected to field first even though all three main group matches had been won by the side batting first.

They would have been hoping to restrict Japan to a low score and chase the target down with their attacking approach to batting, but Japan did well to reach 166 for 6 and Thailand could not build on an opening partnership of 47 and were bowled out for 120 to lose by 46 runs.

Thailand opened the bowling with two left-arm over bowlers and it was all action at the start. Jandree Coetzee bowled the first over and conceded four runs and Mukesh Thakur took a wicket with his third ball In T20Is but conceded 16 runs in his first over. Coetzee took a wicket in his second over but Japan are going for Thakur as he conceded 11 runs in his second over and Japan were 39 for 2 in 4 overs.

Kendel Fleming is Japan captain and he lead the way with five fours and two sixes in the powerplay as Japan reached 54 for 2. The introduction of spin slowed the rate down with Phanuwat Desungnoen and Nopphon Senamontree bowling in tandem. Japan were 87 for 2 after 10 overs.

Japan’s captain completed his fifty and he was playing a fine innings as his side reached the 100 mark in impressive fashion. Chanchai Pengkumpta broke the third wicket partnership with Padmore out for 31 and. Coetzee returned to complete a tidy spell.

Japan were 115 for 4 in 15 overs and Kendal Fleming was bowled by Mukesh Thakur for 74 in 48 balls. Chanchai Pengkumpta finished with 2 for 28 as Japan reached 166 for 6 in 20 overs.

Thailand faced a stiff chase but have started on the front foot with openers Akshaykumar Yadav and Chaloemwong Chatpaisan both hitting out strongly. 45 runs came from the first three overs with a flurry of boundaries.  Chatpaisan was out for 31 in 12 balls after a partnership of 47.

Three more wickets fell quickly as Akshaykumar Yadav was out for 12 and his replacement as Thailand captain Austin Lazarus hit his first two balls in T20I cricket for four to raise hopes but he was caught behind off his next ball. Narawit Nuntarach was out second ball as Reo Sakurano took took his third wicket and Thailand were 68 for four after six overs after a phrenetic start.

Yodsak Saranonnakkun and Jandree Coetzee started to bat more sensibly after the powerplay had finished. Coetzee was looking confident as Thailand were 87 for 4 after 10 overs.

But the Thailand batsmen kept going for their shots and falling to catches in the outfield. Even Coetzee was caught at long off when he went for a big shot and in all Thailand declined from 47 for 0 to 120 all out as all 10 wickets fell for 73.

Reo Sakurano recorded Japan’s best ever figures in T20Is as he took 6 for 26. Japan won by 46 runs but Thailand can reflect on scoring 45 from the first three overs of their innings. Reo Sakurano was named player of the match as Japan joined Singapore at the top of Group B.