Historic one-off T20I: India hold nerve to down Japan in a cliffhanger

PC – BCCI

The historic one-off T20I between India and Japan in Sano turned out to be a cliffhanger. In a rain-curtailed low-scoring affair, India edged out Japan by two runs as the hosts finished up with 30 in a chase of 33. Washington Sundar chipped in with two wickets while Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming top-scored for Japan with 12.

In the last over, with eight runs needed for an epoch-making win, there was enough drama. Axar Patel ended up bowling two successive wides, but one of them was overturned by the umpires, with Alexander Shirai-Patmore attempting a reverse sweep. On replays, it seemed like a wide. Japan needed four off the last ball but Alexander Shirai-Patmore could only eke out a single. As he made his way to the non-striker’s end, he could only look heavenwards in disappointment. 

Earlier, the start of the game was delayed due to the wet outfield. After several inspections, the umpires decided that the field was fit for a game of cricket, with the game being reduced to five-over-a-side contest. India, who opted to bat, were soon down to 7 for 2 in the second over, with Charlie Hara-Hinze and  Ibrahim Takahashi picking up a wicket each. Both Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson fell on the back of trying to hit through the line. 

Ishan Kishan too attempted to smash one through the line and perished. Shreyas Iyer, the India skipper, compiled 16 runs off 12 balls to take India to at least a fighting score on a tacky deck. Meanwhile, Hara-Hinze bagged two wickets. In the last over of India’s innings, there was a dropped catch and in a game of small margins, it could have turned out to be decisive. In the chase, Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake was run-out for one and Ibrahim was dismissed for just four. 

However, at a crucial moment, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming composed a boundary off Ravi Bishnoi while  Benjamin Ito-Davis added useful runs in the very next over. At that moment, it seemed like the improbable could happen, but it wasn’t to be. 

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