Thailand Overcome Japan In Final Group Match

The Women’s Japan National Team lost a hard-fought contest by 42-runs in the first match between the two teams since 2012.

With both teams already locked in for tomorrow’s Quarter Finals at the ACC Premier Cup in Malaysia, this contest decided who would top the group and it was the tournament favourites who showed their strength.

Ranked 12th in the world, Thailand were made to work by the Japanese bowlers after winning the toss and choosing to bat.

Japanese spinners Ayaka Kato-Stafford and Ayumi Fujikawa took two wickets apiece as they restricted Thailand to 126 for six from their 20 overs, Nannapat Koncharoenkai the standout batter with 47* from 42 deliveries.

Japan started the chase in explosive fashion as Haruna Iwasaki smashed the first ball back over the bowlers head for six, but that was the batting highlight for Japan.

The Thailand bowlers showed the control and discipline that has led to them limiting the three teams they have faced in the group so far to scores of 19, 32 and 40.

Tournament top-scorer Kato-Stafford showed she can make runs against all comers with a defiant 29 from 40 balls, but Japan were bowled out off the last ball of the 20 overs for a total of 84; Thai captain Thipatcha Putthawong taking three wickets for just six runs from her four overs.

That means Japan will resume their rivalry with Hong Kong in the Quarter Final from 10:30am JST tomorrow, with the winner securing a place at the Asia Cup.