Pabitra Banerjee : In what was billed as a friendly celebration of diplomatic ties, a historic international cricket match turned into a heart-stopping nail-biter on Tuesday. The Indian men’s team narrowly escaped a massive upset, edging past a fiercely determined Japan side by just 2 runs in a low-scoring thriller at the Sano International Cricket Ground.
Played under the banner of celebrating the 75th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations, the fixture drew massive local attention. Sent in to bat first after losing the toss, the star-studded Indian batting lineup found heavy going on a sluggish pitch. Disciplined bowling from the hosts choked the run-flow, restricting India to a modest 32/4 in their allotted 5 overs. Shreyas Iyer top-scored with a patient 16 off 12 balls, while Sanju Samson added 9. Charles Hinze starred with the ball for Japan, picking up 2 wickets for 17 runs to rattle the visitors early.
Sundar’s Crucial Spell Halts Japanese Charge
Defending a target of 33, India expected a routine cruise, but Japan had other plans. Driven by an aggressive knock from Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, the hosts fought tooth and nail, keeping the capacity crowd roaring. With sharp spin and tight lines, Washington Sundar dragged India back into the contest, grabbing 2 crucial wickets for 13 runs to apply immense pressure in the middle overs.
Final Over Drama and a Landmark Day for Japan
With only a handful of runs needed in the final sequence, the tension reached a fever pitch. India ultimately held their nerve under pressure, restricting Japan to 30/3. While the visitors secured the narrow victory, the true highlight of the day was Japanese cricket which proved it can compete fiercely with global giants on the international stage.
