India edge Japan by two runs in rain-shortened cricket meeting
India survived a close finish against Japan in the sides’ first cricket meeting, winning by two runs on 22 September. A wet outfield reduced the match to five overs per side, the International Cricket Council reported.
India made 32 for four after early wickets left the team at 14 for three. Japan’s Charlie Hara-Hinze removed Abhishek Sharma with the first ball he faced and later dismissed captain Shreyas Iyer. Ibrahim Takahashi and Benjamin Ito-Davis also took wickets.
Japan needed eight runs from the final over. Axar Patel conceded five, securing a narrow India win. He had also struck in the first over of Japan’s chase, while Washington Sundar took a wicket in the second.
The short match showed how the wet conditions and early wickets changed a contest between a world champion side and an emerging cricket team. Japan pushed the result to the last over despite the small target.
