Another April has come around and the cricket season is officially back in full swing. This season the Sharks have set themselves the target of matching or besting their 2025 performance, and while the weather tried its best to dampen our spirits early on, the early signs are looking good.

Late March in Sammu with the Sakura in bloom.

March – Season Launch

Our season opener on March 28th saw the 2nd XI take on Alpha Quashers. Asala made his “re-debut” after two seasons away, and we welcomed Subhan for his first game in Sharks colors. Ultimately the game did not go the 2nd’s way, but Umar impressed and came charging out the off-season with a superb 57 not out.

The following day, the Japan Cup squad (2025 Champions) secured our first win of 2026 against Men In Blue. Nikhil led from the front with a composed 33, while Muneeb and Freddy turned the screws with the ball to defend a total of 132.

Painting the crease on Sano 1A

April 4th – Rain and a Fifer

Drama was the theme at Sano Riverside 1A and 1B as the 1st and 3rd XI’s played on adjacent grounds in their JCL 1 and JCL 4 matches. Both games were ultimately called off due to rain in the first innings, the Sharks the fielding side in each game, and with both squads feeling that they had had the chance of a win taken by the weather. The 3rd`s match against Adore was all the more frustrating as it was the 3rd year in a row that the game had been called off because of rain!

However, the weather couldn’t steal the show from Kento. Playing his first game since last summer following a long injury layoff, and dropping down to the glorious 3rds to ease his way back in, Kento looked like he’d never been away. He dismantled the Adore 1st XI top order to claim a magnificent fifer (5/26). Unfortunately for the 3rds this performance saw Kanto promoted back to his rightful place in the 1st XI the following round. We also celebrated a New Shark debut in the JCL 4 game, with Ahmad making his first appearance.

On the neighboring pitch, Benjamin Ito was also in the wickets, taking 3/28, while Timmy bowled two incredibly tight maidens to finish with figures of 1/0.

Captains and umpires making a decision on the rain

April 11th & 12th – A Smashing Weekend

The 1st XI delivered a clinical performance on April 11th, suffocating the Rising Stars for just 78 runs. In an incredibly low-scoring affair, the winning total was less than 100, but Nikhil didn’t get the memo about it being a “bowler’s pitch”. He bludgeoned an unbeaten 58 off just 21 deliveries, including five massive sixes, to finish the chase in just 6.3 overs. Kento (3/16) and Ben (3/16) were the architects with the ball.

If Saturday was about speed, Sunday was about sheer volume. The 3rd XI posted a monster 314/4 against the Tokyo Falcons, there highest ever score to date. Ayush stole the show with a sensational unbeaten century (111 off 51 balls)*, totally demoralising the Falcon’s bowlers with his boundary hitting. Asala supported brilliantly with 66, while Will fell just short of his first half-century on 47.

April 18th & 19th: Hat-trick Heroics

The highlight of the Japan Cup clash against the Rising Stars on April 18th was Freddy and his hat-trick. Both Freddy (3/21) and Ben (3/19) took three wickets whilst Ghufi provided the backbone with the bat, top-scoring with 32, to help the Shark’s secure a 45-run victory.

The last Shark’s game of the month came relatively early on April 19th, and saw the 2nd XI fight a nail-biter against the Tigers. Sud was the model of patience holding up one end with 40 off 106 balls as the Sharks fought their way to 149/8. As the Tigers chased Rithvik gave them a scare with a clinical spell of 3/28, and Umar took to runouts, but it wasn’t quite enough to prevent a 3-wicket defeat in the 29th over.

Freddie celebrates his hatrick

At the end of the month the Sharks were top of the table in the Japan Cup EK Div 1, 3rd in JCL Div 1, 10th in JCL Div 2 and 2nd in JCL Div 4. But there is still a long way to go…..