India Survive Japan Scare, Win Only T20I By Two Runs
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
India survived a major scare from Japan to win the only T20I by two runs after restricting the hosts to 30/3 in a rain-reduced five-over contest at the Sano International Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
India, who were restricted to 32/4 in five overs, handed Japan a modest target after losing their top three for just 12 runs. Japan came close in the chase but managed only 30/3 from their five overs.
Japan push India close
Japan skipper Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming led the chase with 12 off 12 balls, while Benjamin Ito-Davis remained unbeaten on 9 off eight.
Ibrahim Takahashi added four off three before being dismissed by Washington Sundar, while Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake was run out for one.
Alexander Shirai-Patmore remained unbeaten on two as Japan finished three runs short of the target.
India, Japan rely entirely on spin
India and Japan both used only spinners during Japan’s chase, with Washington Sundar leading the attack.
Sundar claimed 2/13 from two overs, dismissing Kadowaki-Fleming and Takahashi. Ravi Bishnoi bowled one over for 10 runs, while Axar Patel finished with figures of 0/7 from two overs.
Japan had earlier used spin effectively to restrict India to 33/4, with Charlie Hara-Hinze taking 2/17 and Ibrahim Takahashi claiming one wicket.
The match was delayed by nearly 2.5 hours because of a wet outfield before being reduced from 20 overs to five overs per side.
Iyer top-scores for India
India skipper Shreyas Iyer top-scored with 16 off 12 balls. Sanju Samson made nine, while Ishan Kishan scored three.
Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a first-ball duck, while Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on one.
Japan's disciplined bowling left India with a low target, but India’s spinners held their nerve in the final five overs to prevent what would have been a historic upset.
