Japan Beat Indonesia on Record-Breaking Day for Taniyama

Makoto Taniyama surpassed JCA CEO Naoki Miyaji as the leading wicket-taker for Japan, taking the final wicket to break a 13-year-old record, and seal a 41-run win.

The contest was the first match for both teams in the Super Six stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier at the Sano International Cricket Ground.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Japan were struggling as some accurate Indonesia bowling reduced the hosts to 24 for three in the fourth over.

The rebuild began with a 46-run partnership between Esam Rahman (27) and Alex Shirai-Patmore (52), the latter passing fifty in a Japan shirt for the first time since February 2013.

That partnership ended with the score on 70, and the pace quickened significantly when Ibrahim Takahashi entered the fray.

Striking as cleanly as ever, Takahashi dispatched three sixes in a 22-ball cameo which yielded 37 priceless runs in a partnership of 58 in 40 deliveries.

Japan would close the innings with the momentum, Shirai-Patmore out off the last ball to post 142 for seven from the allotted 20 overs.

Although Indonesia made a reasonable start in the powerplay, moving to 37 for one, the Japanese bowlers showed superb discipline, giving nothing away and regularly taking wickets to eventually dismiss the visitors for just 101 in the 20th over.

Over all eight out of nine bowlers collected wickets, with two apiece for Reo Sakurano-Thomas and Taniyama, who takes his tally to 75 in a Japan shirt.

Japan will next be in action on Thursday afternoon against the Cook Islands, before Samoa on Saturday and Papua New Guinea on Monday. All the Japan games start at 2pm on SICG 1.