SANO, Sep 22: India survived a major scare from Japan to register their 200th T20I victory, edging the hosts by two runs in a rain-curtailed five-overs-a-side match at the Sano International Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
The victory, which includes Super Over wins in the tally, made India the first country to reach the landmark of 200 T20I victories.
Persistent rain reduced the one-off contest to five overs per side, with India opting to bat first after winning the toss.
Japan’s bowlers made excellent use of the moisture on the pitch, reducing India to 14 for three early in the innings. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a golden duck, while Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan fell cheaply.
Captain Shreyas Iyer provided some resistance with a 12-ball 16, but India could manage only 32 for four in their five overs. Charlie Hara-Hinze claimed two wickets for 17 runs, while Benjamin Ito and Ibrahim Takahashi took one each.
Japan’s chase also got off to a difficult start when Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake was run out in the opening over. However, the hosts remained firmly in the contest.
Washington Sundar then struck twice, dismissing Ibrahim Takahashi for four and Japan captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming for 12. Sundar finished with figures of two for 13.
Japan needed eight runs from eight deliveries after losing their captain and appeared capable of completing a historic upset.
Axar Patel, however, held his nerve in the final over. Despite conceding two wides, India restricted Japan to singles from the final three deliveries as the hosts finished on 30 for three.
India’s two-run victory secured their 200th T20I win and capped a dramatic contest in which Japan pushed the two-time T20 world champions to the final delivery.
