India escaped with a narrow two-run win over Japan to avoid one of the greatest upsets in cricket history in their shortened T20 match at Sano.
The game was reduced to five overs due to rain and India struggled on the placid pitch after electing to bat first, with skipper Shreyas Iyer producing a top-score of 16 off 12 balls alongside Sanju Samson’s nine.
Charlie Hara-Hinze claimed two wickets for 17 runs as India finished on 32 for four and the hosts were pegged back in their chase with Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake and Ibrahim Takahashi falling in the opening two overs.
Captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming led the response for Japan with 12 before being dismissed by Washington Sundar and Benjamin Ito-Davis added nine as India scraped to victory.
There was a dramatic moment in the final over when India were frustrated about a wide signalled by the umpire and following a discussion with the square leg umpire, the decision was overturned.
“Honestly speaking, it was a very difficult wicket to bat on,” Iyer said after the match. “A five-over game, it can go anywhere. It doesn’t matter how good a team you are.
“The attitude and approach the Japanese team showed today was impeccable, and kudos to them. Their approach was outstanding. I’m sure that they are on the right track.”
Kadowaki-Fleming said he was extremely proud of his team’s performance against such formidable opposition.
“Emotions are running pretty high in our group. But the fact that we’re able to run the best team in the world, in my opinion, to the last ball of a game is pretty special,” he said.
“I think today was a really momentous occasion in that it was the first time we were able to face a full member.”
Minnows Japan had used diplomatic channels to line up the high-profile match against India.
India agreed to the meeting partly on the basis that they could use the game to get used to conditions in Japan before beginning their Asian Games title defence.
India could yet face Japan in their Asian Games opener as they prepare to begin their campaign at the quarter-final stage, bypassing the group alongside Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh because of their seeding.
They will be pitted against the runner-up of Group A, which consists of Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal, on Monday 28 September at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin.
Additional reporting from PA
