Japan cricket team created history during the second T20I match against Mongolia at the Sano International Cricket Ground on 8 May 2024. Their emphatic victory against Mongolia in the second T20I will forever be etched in the memories of fans. The Japanese bowling attack unleashed a fiery spell and completely dismantled the Mongolian batting line-up in just 12 runs. This is the second lowest ever score recorded in a T20I match.
For some context, the dubious record of the lowest T20I total belongs to the Isle of Man, who were bundled out for just 10 runs against Spain in 2023. While Mongolia narrowly avoided this unwelcome news, their 12 runs nonetheless made it a day their team will want to forget.
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A monumental victory for Japan
It wasn’t just a win for Japan, it became an all-time second place for the country’s entire cricket scene. An emphatic victory by a dazzling margin of 205 runs secures the fourth biggest victory in T20I records. This dominant performance is sure to spark a whole new era of younger Japanese cricketers and show the sport’s potential in Japan.
Mongolia tour of Japan, 2024
Japan Vs Mongolia
7 T20Is pic.twitter.com/5xjfgpuaIw— Associate Cricket (@associate_cric) May 3, 2024
This stunning victory is part of a bigger story. Mongolia are currently touring Japan for a seven-match T20I series and Japan have already positioned themselves as clear favourites. The first T20I also saw Japan dominate as they secured a resounding 166-run victory. Batting first and setting a target of 200 runs, the Japanese bowlers ran riot through the Mongolian batting line-up and swept them away for a paltry 33 runs. Left-arm spinner Charles Hinze was the star performer in this match, taking a brilliant 4 wickets for just 4 runs in his 4 overs.
Japan vs Mongolia 2nd T20
Building on the momentum from the first match, Japan’s win rewrites their personal record of the biggest win by runs in T20I history. Their previous big win was 188 runs against China, which was now passed through this extraordinary 205-run win.
The last match in the ongoing series will probably give an experience to Mongolia. In the next game, they will try to improve overall performance and salvage some respect. It could be interesting for Japan to maintain their dominant streak and undoubtedly set even higher benchmarks.
May 8, 2024 will be remembered as a day long past in Japanese cricket. The team’s bowlers put up a truly amazing performance and restricted Mongolia to a score so low (12 runs) it will be etched in the books. This dominant display secured a massive victory and also served as a major boost to the growth and recognition of the sport in Japan. With such inspiring performances, Japanese cricket is poised for a bright future.
