Japan Falls Just Short of Historic Upset Against T20 Champions India in Sano Thriller

Japan nearly pulled off the biggest upset in cricket history, coming within just two runs of defeating T20 world champions India during a nervy one-off match in Sano on Tuesday.

Initially viewed as a simple friendly between the double World Cup winners and the 41st-ranked hosts, the rain-affected, five-over-a-side game quickly turned into a dramatic contest. Japan delivered a spirited performance to restrict India to just 32-4.

In response, Japan positioned themselves well for a famous victory, needing only nine runs off the final over. However, spinner Axar Patel held his nerve to concede just five runs, allowing India to escape with a narrow two-run victory as Japan finished on 30-3.

Batting proved difficult for both sides in bowler-friendly conditions, resulting in only four boundaries across the entire 10-over match. India captain Shreyas Iyer led the scoring for his side with 16 runs from 12 balls. More to follow...