The Women’s Japan National Team booked their place in the Quarter Finals of the ACC Premier Cup in Malaysia with a routine win over a spirited Bahrain side in the first ever meeting between the two.
Bahrain, yet to win a T20 International match, showed plenty of fight to make life uncomfortable for a Japan team showing three changes from the previous day.
After winning the toss and batting first, Japan again required Ayaka Kato-Stafford to step up with the bat as the top order fell cheaply once more as Bahrain took the first three wickets for just 18 runs.
The 16-year-old prodigy needed a partner and this time it was Hinase Goto, in her first innings of the tournament, who made a career best 45 from 43 deliveries in a stand of 111 from 93.
After Goto was denied a half century by a surprising run out decision, Kato-Stafford kicked on and a late flurry of boundaries brought her a second 50+ score of the tournament, eventually dismissed with a ball remaining of the innings for 63 from 61 deliveries.
That knock lifted Japan to 142 for five and cemented Kato-Stafford as leading run scorer for the tournament so far.
Japan started well with the ball, striking twice in the first four overs and again in the 7th to leave Bahrain in trouble at 29 for three, only to be frustrated from then on.
Bahrain saved their best batting performance for their final outing as Abeera Waris (32*) and 16-year-old Sweeta Corda (29*) dug in to bat through the remaining overs.
Their unbroken partnership of 65 from 78 deliveries led Bahrain to 94 for three.
Despite the batters efforts, Japan always had the game under control and ended as comfortable winners by 48 runs.
The result means that Japan will take on tournament favourites Thailand in the final match of Group A on Tuesday 9th June.
The winner will then have a Quarter Final against Nepal while runner up will take on Hong Kong, who are the two teams progressing from Group D.
The Quarter Finals will be played on Wednesday 10th June and the winners will secure a place at the Asia Cup.
