India edge Japan by two runs after final-over wide is overturned

India beat Japan by two runs in a five-over T20 at Sano Cricket Ground on Tuesday, 22 September, after umpires overturned a wide call in a tense final over.

The one-off match was cut to five overs per side. India made 32-4, with captain Shreyas Iyer top-scoring with 16 off 12 balls. Japan replied with 30-3, led by Kadowaki-Fleming's 12 off 12, to fall just short in what was the first international meeting between the sides BBC.

Japan needed eight runs from the final over with Axar Patel bowling for India. With six required from the last four balls, Alexander Shirai-Patmore shaped for a reverse-sweep — switching his stance to hit to the opposite side — when Axar sent the ball down the leg side BBC.

The umpire first signalled a wide, which would have added an extra run without counting as a legal ball. Axar and Iyer protested. The two on-field umpires then spoke and reversed the decision.

That one call changed the equation. Instead of five needed from four balls, Japan were left needing six from three balls. Umpire Chris Thugate was identified as one of the officials involved in the discussion Nine.

Axar held his nerve. He finished with 0-7 from two overs as Japan could not find the boundary they needed. There was no decision review system — the TV-assisted appeals process — in place, so there was no formal route to challenge the reversal.

It was a tight, scrappy contest with the ball on top. Charlie Hara-Hinze took 2-17 for Japan, removing Abhishek Sharma first ball. Washington took 2-13 for India BBC.

The fixture was arranged as preparation for the men's Asian Games starting on 24 September. Japan have never reached a T20 World Cup, so this was a first meeting with India, the reigning men's T20 world champions.

What makes this stand out is how close an associate nation ran a full member. Japan matched India for four overs. The wide reversal will be debated. The scorecard will simply show a two-run win.