Japan & Malaysia Share Bilateral Series

The Women’s Japan National Team recorded their first ever victory over higher-ranked Malaysia to earn a 1-1 series draw at the Sano international Cricket Ground.

The series had looked in danger of not being played at all after heavy rain and a sodden outfield meant matches on both Friday and Saturday could not be played.

However two matches were able to be played in full on Sunday 13th September and both teams will go away with plenty of positives.

The day began with Mai Yanagida receiving a commemorative shirt to mark her 100th international appearance for Japan, the first to reach that landmark, and she celebrated by winning the toss and choosing to bowl.

Malaysia made a terrific start, putting on 62 for the first wicket but Japan did well to peg them back to a final total of 100 for four from their 20 overs.

Japan struggled against some tight bowling and despite a fighting 20 from Erika Oda, ultimately fell short, ending the innings on 82 for six as Malaysia earned an 18-run win.

Yanagida won the toss again for the afternoon and this time the shackles were off as Haruna Iwasaki smacked five boundaries in an opening salvo of 21 from 16 balls.

There were starts for the rest of the top order as Japan ended their innings 105 for six and with genuine hope of a victory over a side raked 11 places higher.

This time Japan were able to strike early, Ahilya Chandel taking her first international wicket since this same date a year ago to get Japan off to a perfect start.

Japan took wickets regularly to reduce Malaysia to 38 for five, but the highlight of the innings came just as a partnership was threatening to bring them back into the game as Iwasaki took a stunning one handed catch on the boundary to dismiss Nurin Imanina.

While Malaysia continued to fight, they eventually succumbed as Chandel came back into the attack to strike twice in the 18th over to finish with figures of three for 16 and earn Japan an 11-run win.

The Japan Cricket Association would like to thank Malaysia for travelling over to Sano and hope this can be the first of many bilateral series between two emerging cricket forces.