Ayaka Stafford's 63 Fires Japan Women to Victory
Japan Women
142/5 (20)
Bahrain Women
94/3 (20)
JAP-W won by 48 runs
View full scorecard →Japan Women have won by 48 runs. Japan Women batted first and posted 142/5 in 20 overs. Bahrain Women, chasing 143, fell short at 94/3 in 20 overs.
Ayaka Stafford was the standout in the first innings, scoring 63 off 61 balls (SR 103). 4 fours provided the impetus. The powerplay yielded 35 runs — early wickets put them under pressure from the start.
Sweeta Corda fought hard with 34 off 47 balls, but it was not enough to haul Bahrain Women over the line. The required rate climbed too steeply in the end.
With the ball, Tharanga Gajanayake delivered figures of 2/27 in 4 overs (Econ 6.8). A tidy spell that kept the pressure on throughout.
JAP-W lead the series 36-0. The pressure is firmly on the chasing side now.
The Turning Point
The match swung decisively when Bahrain Women lost 3 wickets in a 4-over passage during the chase. What had been a competitive equation turned into a rearguard action, and from there, the asking rate was always climbing.
Key Performers
63 off 61 balls (SR 103), 4 fours, 0 sixes
2/27 in 4 overs (Econ: 6.75)
45 off 43 balls (SR 105), 1 fours, 0 sixes
Verdict
Japan Women showed composure when it mattered most and deserve this victory. Bahrain Women came up short by 48 runs. There were passages where they looked competitive, but consistency eluded them when it mattered. JAP-W lead the series 36-0. The pressure is firmly on the chasing side now.