India captain Shreyas Iyer would breathe a sigh of relief as the visitors survived a scare in a truncated five overs per side game at Sano International Cricket Ground, Sano, Kanto, on September 22. After the match was delayed due to wet outfield, Indian top-order suffered a collapse and managed to post a modest target of 33. Axar Patel held his nerve to concede just six runs in two overs and help India win by just two runs in a last over thriller, preventing Iyer-led side from a major upset.
India top-order fails to make a mark
In the rain-truncated five overs per side game, Iyer won the toss and opted to bat. Sanju Samson hit the first four of the innings. Charlie Hara-Hinze dismissed in-form Abhishek Sharma for a golden duck. In the next over, Ibrahim Takahashi got Samson's wicket. He scored nine runs from seven balls. Benjamin Ito-Davis delivered a brilliant over conceding just two runs and bagging Ishan Kishan's wicket. Charlie bowled the final over. Shreyas' catch was dropped off the second delivery. He scored 16 runs from 12 balls before losing his wicket off the penultimate delivery. Charlie finished the innings with a dot ball to Shivam Dube. India managed to post 32/4 on the board.
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Axar steals the show
Axar bowled the first over and conceded just two runs. Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake got run out for a single-digit score. Kishan delivered with a direct hit to dismiss the opener. Takahashi hit the first boundary of the innings. He fell to Washington Sundar off the next delivery. Sundar conceded six runs in his first over. Then, Ravi Bishnoi went for 10 runs. Skipper Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming hit him for a boundary as well. Sundar continued and went for seven runs in the over. Tilak Varma put down Kadowaki-Fleming's catch. But, Sundar got the better of the skipper on his final delivery. Axar was charged with the responsibility of bowling the final over. He kept Ito-Davis and Alexander Shirai-Patmore at bay, ensuring a two-run win for India in Suzuki Cup.
Iyer trusted the spinners and did not give a single over to pacers Arshdeep Singh and Yash Thakur.
The focus will now shift as India men's would look to defend the gold medal like the women's team. India's quarter-final game will be played on September 28.