Sano: India survived a major scare against Japan on Tuesday, clinching a thrilling five-over one-off T20I by just two runs after Axar Patel held his nerve in the final over to defend a target of 33.
Sent in to bat, the reigning T20I world champions endured a stunning collapse against Japan’s spinners and were restricted to 32/4 in their five overs on the sluggish Sano surface.
Captain Shreyas Iyer top-scored for India with 12 off 16 balls, including the team’s only boundary, while Shivam Dube remained unbeaten on 0 and Tilak Varma on one. Charlie Hara-Hinze was Japan’s standout bowler, finishing with 2/17, while Ibrahim Takahashi claimed one wicket.
India’s innings began disastrously when Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a golden duck by Hara-Hinze on the final delivery of the opening over. Sanju Samson managed nine from seven balls before Takahashi removed him, leaving India at 9/2 after 1.2 overs.
Japan continued to dominate with the ball as Ishan Kishan fell for three, caught by Benjamin Ito-Davis. India slipped to 14/3 after three overs and were reduced to 22/4 after four, with their batters struggling to generate any momentum against the disciplined spin attack.
Abhishek’s dismissal also marked his seventh golden duck in T20Is in 2026 and 10th overall in T20 cricket in the calendar year, according to the supplied statistics. India’s top three managed only 12 runs, their lowest combined tally against an associate nation in 16 T20Is.
Chasing 33, Japan suffered an early setback when Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake was run out for one in the first over following a sharp throw from Ishan Kishan. Washington Sundar then dismissed Ibrahim Takahashi for four, reducing Japan to 7/2.
Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming and Benjamin Ito-Davis briefly steadied the chase, adding 10 runs in the third over to take Japan to 18/2. Japan needed 15 from the final two overs, but Sundar struck again at the end of the fourth, removing Kadowaki-Fleming for 12.
With eight required from the final over, Axar Patel was handed the ball and delivered under pressure. Japan could manage only five runs, finishing on 30/3 and narrowly missing what would have been a remarkable chase.
Washington Sundar finished as India’s leading bowler with two wickets, while Axar’s decisive final over ensured India escaped with the two-run victory.
