Tokyo: Two-time defending T20 world champions India narrowly avoided an upset against 41st-ranked Japan on Tuesday in a rain-shortened match ahead of the men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games.
The match at Sano International Ground was reduced to five overs per side due to rain. India won the toss and scored 32 for four in five overs. Japan managed 30 for three, falling two runs short of India’s total.
Japan needed eight runs from the final over, but Indian spinner Axar Patel conceded only five runs to secure the narrow victory.
The match began two-and-a-half hours late because of rain, resulting in the reduction of overs. Indian captain Shreyas Iyer top-scored with 16 runs, while opener Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a duck. Sanju Samson scored nine and Ishan Kishan made three.
With the win, India moved back to No. 1 in the ICC T20 team rankings, overtaking England.
The match was organised to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.
