June 3, 2025
Tebogo Macheke, Tiana van den Heuvel and Kgalalelo Matsepe, recently embarked on a 9-day cricket tour to Japan and participated in the Women’s Japan Premier League Tournament 2025.
The continuous development of the WJPL has seen a partnership between Japan Cricket Association and Titans Cricket, and has facilitated player exchanges between the two nations. The 2025 format saw an expansion from a two-team format to a three-team format to include the franchise Titans own team. Titans continued their involvement and sent 3 players, a team manager (Charlotte Serwadi) and coach (Richard Das Neves) to participate as ‘Titans Ladies’.
The tournament consisted of a number of matches against the Pacific Rays and Mamushi and included three T20s and one T10 match over a five-day period.
During the tournament Tebogo Macheke was skillful, delivering a steady performances in the league, showcasing her consistency and ability to anchor innings under pressure. In a match against Mamushi, Macheke scored 32 runs off 31 balls, providing a solid foundation for her team. She followed that up with an unbeaten 30 off 24 deliveries against the Pacific Rays, demonstrating her composure and finishing skills.
Tiana van den Heuvel added: “I have a lot of passion and love for the game and I’m the happiest when I’m out in the middle. This Japan trip has been a great opportunity to understand different conditions and learn from players from all around the world.” Tiani impressed with her disciplined bowling, delivering economical spells. She took 1 for 19 in her full four overs against Mamushi and followed it up with a standout performance of 1 for 8 in three overs, including a maiden, against the Pacific Rays.
This ongoing partnership exemplifies a shared commitment to developing women’s cricket globally, offering players opportunities to compete at higher levels and gain international exposure. As the WJPL grows, collaborations like that between Japan Cricket Association and Titans Cricket will be instrumental in elevating the sport’s profile and fostering talent across borders.
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