Stefan Kraft claims second ski jumping victory of the season in Sapporo ahead of Ryoyu Kobayashi

Stefan Kraft claimed his second FIS Ski Jumping World Cup individual gold of the season with victory in Sapporo.

Kraft led the way after the first round of jumping with 148.8 points before a second-round score of 134.7 was enough to finish over five points ahead of Halvor Egner Granerud.

It was an eighth-successive podium for the Norwegian, who produced jumps of 129.5m and 132m to close the gap to overall leader Dawid Kubacki, who finished fourth.

There was also a podium on home soil for reigning Crystal Global holder Ryoyu Kobayashi, who followed up his first win of the season with a third-placed finish.

It has been a season to forget for the two-time Crystal Globe winner, who sits 11th overall, but two consecutive podiums have left him feeling nearer his best.

“I’m happy,” said Kobayashi. “Now I feel good about my jumps, so I want to continue after I return to Europe.”

Victory for Kraft means he closes the gap to third to 114 points, with third-placed Anze Lanisek finishing 50th on a torrid day in Japan for the Slovenian.

Kubacki maintained his grip on the yellow bib despite a fourth-placed finish, with Granerud now 104 points behind the Pole, with the World Cup set to reach the halfway stage on Sunday with a third and final day of competition in Sapporo.