Shiga Kyoto Champions of Japan Cup 2019

Congratulations Shiga Kyoto CC on their win in this years Japan Cup, Kansai Region, 2019

With the addition of a new team, Kansai Tigers this year and a rule change allowing 2 Kansai teams to travel to participate in the National T20 Finals, Shiga Kyoto CC, the winners of this years Japan Cup in Kansai, and Kobe Hawks, the runners up, will both travel to Sano to compete.

Good luck to both teams in Sano.

Match Report

Shiga Kyoto T20 emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against Kobe Hawks T20 to clinch the 2019 Japan Cup Finals. It was a match filled with high-scoring innings, incredible performances, and nail-biting moments that kept the spectators at the edge of their seats.

Shiga Kyoto T20 won the toss and elected to bat first. However, their start was far from ideal as opener Roy fell early, adjudged LBW to a delivery from Kobe Hawks’ Dawood Khan. Shehan Chinthana and Miyuru Navaratne tried to steady the innings, but both departed after contributing small scores. It was then that Chanaka Dushmantha took the center stage and played a sensational knock.

Dushmantha played a blistering innings, smashing the Kobe Hawks bowlers to all parts of the ground. He struck 11 fours and 7 sixes in his whirlwind knock of 103 runs off just 50 balls. His aggressive strokeplay single-handedly propelled Shiga Kyoto T20 to a formidable total. Unfortunately, the rest of the batting line-up failed to provide substantial support, and Shiga Kyoto T20 were eventually bowled out for 190 runs in their allotted 20 overs.

Kobe Hawks T20 began their chase with a sense of urgency, but Shiga Kyoto’s bowlers struck early blows. Subhanabbasi Arshad fell cheaply, caught by Miyuru Navaratne off the bowling of Shahen Silva. However, Arain Nazar had other plans as he held the innings together with a masterful knock.

Nazar played a mature innings, accumulating runs steadily and keeping the required run rate in check. He found able support from Umair Zulfiqar, who made a useful contribution of 14 runs, but with regular dismissals and a great catch taken by Naoki Okamoto to remove Basit Abbasi the game titled in Shiga Kyoto’s favor.

For Kobe Hawks, it was Nazar who led the charge, finding the boundary ropes with ease. After initially retiring hurt due a a blow struck on his body, he came back to the crease at the end of the match and finished unbeaten on 81 runs off 56 deliveries, including 9 boundaries and 3 sixes.

Despite the valiant efforts of Nazar, Kobe Hawks T20 fell short of the target. They managed to score 165 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Shahen Silva was the pick of the bowlers for Shiga Kyoto T20, claiming three crucial wickets and creating immense pressure on the opposition batsmen, coming back at the death to hold off the opposition.

The 2019 Japan Cup Finals will be remembered as a thrilling contest that showcased the growth of cricket in Japan. With Shiga Kyoto T20 emerging as the champions, they have set a strong example for aspiring cricketers in the country and laid the foundation for a bright future in Japanese cricket.