Photo via Hindustan Times

India hang on by a thread to survive Japan scare, but spin woes surface again

India narrowly escaped an embarrassing defeat against Japan in a rain-reduced five-over contest on Tuesday, securing a two-run victory that again exposed their ongoing vulnerabilities against spin bowling. After a three-hour delay caused by a wet outfield, India batted first and managed a paltry 32-4, with Abhishek Sharma falling for a golden duck as Japanese slow bowlers Charlie Hara-Hinze, Ibrahim Takahashi, and Benjamin Ito-Davis tied down the lineup.

In reply, Japan fell just short during a dramatic run chase that concluded when Axar Patel successfully defended eight runs in the final over, despite a late wide-call reversal and a single off the last delivery that left the hosts two runs shy.