India Edges Past Japan in a Dramatic and Thrilling Finish

The only T20I held at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Japan was a thrilling and tense affair. When the game was reduced to five overs due to rain, hosts Japan put up an incredible fight against T20 powerhouse India. In a nerve-wracking match that lasted until the last ball of the last over, the visitors somehow managed to escape with a comfortable victory by just two runs.

India, who won the toss and elected to bat first, suffered a major setback in the first over when Abhishek Sharma was dismissed without scoring a single run. Neither Sanju Samson (9) nor Ishan Kishan (3) could bat comfortably against the well-controlled and tight bowling of the Japanese bowlers. Captain Shreyas Iyer scored 16 runs off 12 balls to keep the team on one side in this dangerous day. India, relying on his responsible innings, managed to get a meager capital of just 32 runs for 4 wickets in the allotted 5 overs.

Chasing a target of 33 runs, rising power Japan showed great courage. Their batsmen kept the scoreboard moving by running between the wickets without giving the visiting bowlers a chance. Japanese captain Kendall Kadowaki-Fleming took the match to the last over with 12 runs. The Indian captain handed the ball to Washington Sundar to block the required runs for victory in the last over. Sundar’s experience and well-controlled bowling eventually stopped Japan for 30 runs in 5 overs.

Although the historic opportunity was missed, Japan’s epic fight has captured the attention of the sportsmanship and cricketing world, while India has managed to avoid a complete disaster.
Brief scorecard
India: 32/4 (5 overs)
* Shreyas Iyer 16 (12), Sanju Samson 9 (7)
* Charles Hinze 2-0-17-2, Bormente Ito-Davis 1-0-2-1
Japan: 30/3 (5 overs)
* Kendall Kadowaki-Fleming 12 (12)
* Washington Sundar 2-0-13-2
* Result: India won by 2 runs.
* Man of the Match: Shreyas Iyer (India).