Asian Games: India beat Japan by two runs in rain-hit T20I

India narrowly avoided a historic upset, defeating hosts Japan by two runs in a rain-curtailed, five-overs-a-side one-off T20 International match at the Sano International Cricket Ground on  Tuesday. This was India’s 200th victory in T20 Internationals, including Super Over wins. After a nearly 2.5-hour delay due to a wet outfield, India skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bat first. However, Japan’s spinners made the most of the conditions, restricting the visitors to 32 for 4 after five overs.
Chasing 33 off 30 balls, Japan gave India a major scare and came agonisingly close to pulling off one of the biggest upsets in their cricketing history. Washington Sundar struck twice to halt Japan’s momentum, while Axar Patel kept things tight with his experience and control. The hosts managed to score 30 for 3 in five overs and eventually fell two runs short, handing India a nervy victory.
Earlier, Japan's relatively inexperienced spin attack troubled India's star-studded batting line-up and restricted them to a below-par total. Left-arm spinner Charlie Hara Hinze and off-spinner Ibrahim Takahashi made the most of the moisture and turn, claiming two and one wickets respectively. Hara-Hinze dismissed Abhishek Sharma for a duck after the Indian opener mistimed a slog sweep, while Takahashi deceived Sanju Samson with a flighted delivery, with the batter's heave ending at the mid-wicket boundary.