Sunrisers in frame for JPL three-peat after day three victory over Kansai

All-round efforts from Will Bosisto and Ibrahim Takahashi alongside a batting show from Shogo Kimura has given the East Kanto Sunrisers the chance for a Japan Premier League three-peat in Tuesday morning’s tournament Final, beating Kansai in the final group stage match.

The trio shouldered responsibilities for the Sunrisers in the five-wicket victory over the Kansai Chargers on Sano International Cricket Ground No.2, in part making up for the loss of captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, who went down in the Sunrisers’ fielding innings with an ankle injury.

The Sunrisers will be sweating on the fitness of Kadowaki-Fleming, who did not field or bat after succumbing to the injury and remains a doubt in the match against South Kanto Super Kings for the title.

The Super Kings locked in a Final spot with a no-result on Monday afternoon, giving Sabaorish Ravichandran’s side the chance to lift the trophy for the first time since 2020, when they beat the Sunrisers in the Final.

Electing to bowl after winning the toss in the only completed match of the day, the Sunrisers drew first blood thanks to a direct hit run out from U19 World Cup hero Ryuki Ozeki, dismissing opener Ashley Thurgate (8). The Chargers counter-attacked through Jack Wildermuth and Keishi Ayukai, with the pair putting on 62 in just 3.4 overs.

Wildermuth hit four sixes in his 19-ball stay at the crease, before falling to fellow overseas player Will Bosisto on 37. Wildermuth had survived an LBW shout the ball before, though was struck on the pad again trying to work a single into the leg side.

Ayukai (38 off 24 balls) was complimented by Makoto Taniyama (25) and Declan Suzuki McComb (26), and had moved the team to 101 inside 11 overs before chopping on an Ibrahim Takahashi delivery.

Bosisto turned the screws with his finger spin to keep the Chargers quiet, removing Alester Kadowaki-Fleming (2), Abdul Samad (3), Bikash Khadka (0) and Max Yonekawa-Lynn, eventually finishing with figures of 5/13 (4).

The Australian then went on to make a quickfire 24 (10) at the top of the Sunrisers innings, hitting three reverse sweep sixes, with fellow opener Abhishek Anand hitting two early sixes of his own.

Samad exacted some revenge by dismissing both in response and had the Sunrisers at one point struggling at 73/5, though the work of Kimura and Takahashi put the defending champions back on top.

With the openers’ work bringing the required rate down, the pair were mature in their chase, taking ones and twos on offer, and hitting 13 boundaries between them to wrap the chase up in the penultimate over.

Kimura finished with 69 not out from just 47 balls, with Takahashi complimenting the powerful left-hander with an intelligent 45 not out from 40 balls.

The defeat means North Kanto Lions will take on West Kanto Hurricanes for third place on SICG No.2, with the Super Kings and Sunrisers to meet on SICG No.1.

Defeat for the Chargers meant last year’s finalists finish the competition in fifth.