IND vs JAPAN T20: India beat Japan by 2 runs in a 5-over thriller

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India narrowly avoided an upset, edging past host nation Japan by two runs in a dramatic, five-over-a-side T20I encounter on Tuesday after Axar Patel successfully defended eight runs in the final over.

Defending a low total of 32/4, India struck early in Japan’s chase of 33. Wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan produced a sharp run-out to dismiss opener Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake for just one run in the opening over.

Off-spinner Washington Sundar maintained the pressure in the second over, removing Ibrahim Takahashi for four to leave Japan struggling at 7/2.

Japan mounted a recovery in the middle overs with Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming and Benjamin Ito-Davis targeting leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, taking 10 runs off the third over to push the total to 18/2 and leaving Japan needing 15 runs from the final 12 deliveries with two set batters at the crease.

Eventually, Axar Patel held his nerve in the final over, defending eight runs to give India a two-run win and avoid one of the biggest upsets in cricket history.

India scored 32 runs in the first innings

Earlier, the Indian team motored along to 32 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in a one-off T20I against Japan. In the match reduced to five overs due to a wet outfield, Shreyas Iyer scored 18 runs as the rest of the batters faltered. Star opener Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a first-ball duck.

For Japan, Charlie Hara-Hinze was the star with the ball, taking two wickets in his two overs.

Earlier, after winning the toss, Indian captain Iyer said that his team would bat first. He further added that he wanted to have a look at the Japanese conditions before the start of the Asian Games.

‘We are going to bat first. It is a big occasion; it is going to be an exciting one, and we want to explore the conditions. It is going to be a 5-over side, so we want to bat first. I never envisioned that I would be coming to Japan and captaining India. It’s important that we know the conditions and we are aware of what’s happening around us.” Shreyas Iyer said.

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