India narrowly avoided a historic upset as they edged Japan by two runs in a rain-curtailed, five-overs-a-side one-off T20I at the Sano International Cricket Ground. The victory also marked India’s 200th win in T20Is, including Super Over victories, making them the first team to reach the landmark.
The match was under threat from rain from the outset, with a significant amount of playing time lost before the game was reduced to five overs per side. India opted to bat after winning the toss, but difficult conditions and a slow surface made stroke-making challenging. Japan’s inexperienced but disciplined spin attack made the most of the moisture in the pitch and put India’s top order under pressure.
Abhishek Sharma fell for a golden duck after being caught off Charlie Hara-Hinze on the final delivery of the opening over. Ibrahim Takahashi then dismissed Sanju Samson for nine two balls later, before Benjamin Ito accounted for Ishan Kishan for three, leaving India at 14/3 in the third over.
Captain Shreyas Iyer provided some much-needed resistance, scoring 16 off 12 deliveries, including a boundary. However, he was dismissed by Hara-Hinze in the final over as India finished on 32/4. Hara-Hinze was Japan’s standout bowler with 2/17, while Ito returned 1/2 and Takahashi 1/13.
Japan began their chase with captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming and Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake, but Yamamoto-Lake was run out by Ishan Kishan in the opening over.
Washington Sundar then struck twice, dismissing Takahashi for four before removing Kadowaki-Fleming, who scored 12 off 12 balls. With Japan’s captain back in the pavilion, the equation came down to eight runs from eight deliveries, leaving the hosts within touching distance of a famous victory.
Japan still needed eight runs from the final over, but Axar Patel held his nerve. Two wides initially added to the pressure, although one was overturned. With six runs required from the final three deliveries, Japan could manage only three singles as India completed a narrow two-run victory.
Brief scores: India 32/4 in 5 overs (Shreyas Iyer 16; Charlie Hara-Hinze 2/17) beat Japan 30/3 in 5 overs (Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming 12; Washington Sundar 2/13) by 2 runs.
