India Japan T20I: India Beat Japan by Two Runs in Five Over Thriller at Sano
India defended 32 runs against Japan in a rain shortened five over thriller at Sano, sealing a narrow victory after a tense final over.
India Japan T20I: India survived a tense finish against Japan to win their rain affected one off T20I by two runs at the Sano International Cricket Ground on September 22.
The match had already been delayed because of rain and a wet outfield. With limited playing time available, the contest was reduced to five overs per side. India finished their innings at 32 for four, leaving Japan with 33 runs to win.
For much of the chase, Japan stayed within touching distance. The hosts reached 30 for three after five overs, falling just short of what would have been a memorable win against India.
India’s bowlers had to keep their composure in the closing stages. Washington Sundar picked up two wickets, while Axar Patel handled the final over with Japan still in the hunt.
Earlier, Japan’s bowlers made life difficult for the Indian batting lineup. The visitors lost Abhishek Sharma without scoring, while Sanju Samson contributed nine runs. Ishan Kishan made three before departing.
Captain Shreyas Iyer provided most of India’s runs, scoring 16 from 12 deliveries. His innings included one boundary, but India could not build enough momentum on a difficult surface. India eventually reached 32 for four from their five overs.
Japan needed only 33 runs, and the small target kept the game alive right until the final delivery. Their batters managed to stay in the contest, putting pressure on the Indian side despite the short format.
The result also gave India a significant milestone. The victory was their 200th win in men’s T20 internationals, making India the first team to reach that mark. The tally includes victories decided through Super Overs.
The game was also notable because it was the first men’s T20I meeting between India and Japan. Despite the huge difference in experience between the two sides, Japan pushed India all the way in the shortened contest.
India’s narrow win brought an unusual match to a close. What initially looked like a straightforward chase for Japan turned into a tight finish, with the hosts ending on 30 for three and India holding on by two runs.
