AFG vs JPN Ball by Ball Commentary

OUT! TIMBER! Afghanistan win by 48 runs. Under-cutter, on middle and off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater goes down on one knee and looks for a slog sweep but misses, and the ball goes on and smashes into the timber.

Quicker one, around off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater dabs this to the third man region for a brace.

Pushed through around off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater defends it out.

Way too full, on middle and off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater squeezes it out to the right of the bowler and takes one as the ball rolls to mid on.

Yorker, around off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater looks for a reverse lap but misses out.

Back of a length, on off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater stabs it down.

On a length, around off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater carves this to point.

Good length, on middle and off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater jams it out.

Yorker, on off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater digs it out.

Back of a length, around off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater drags this down to long on for one run.

Good length, on middle and off, Makoto Taniyama looks to flick it away but gets a top edge that flies down to the third man region for a single.

Full and around off, Makoto Taniyama pushes this past the left of the bowler for a dot.

Back of a length, around leg, Shoma Sugaya-Slater flat bats this to the right of the bowler. Single taken.

Slower one, on the pads, Shoma Sugaya-Slater keeps it out.

Full and on middle and leg, Makoto Taniyama pushes this down to long on for a single.

On a length, around middle and leg, Shoma Sugaya-Slater backs away and looks to hit this down the ground but misses out. The ball somehow bounces over the leg stump.

OUT! CASTLED! The yorker has done the trick for Abdollah Ahmadzai. Yorker, on off, Wataru Miyauchi exposes his stumps by moving away to his leg and looks to slice this through point, but the ball sneaks under the blade and rattles the timber.

Good length, on middle and off, Wataru Miyauchi punches this down to long off for two runs.

Back of a length, around off, Wataru Miyauchi looks for a square cut but fails to connect.

Full and around off, Wataru Miyauchi drives this to extra cover.

Back of a length, wide of off, Wataru Miyauchi backs away and swings at it but misses out.

Tossed up, on off, Makoto Taniyama defends it out.

Short of a length, on off, Wataru Miyauchi cuts this through point for one.

Quicker one, around off, Wataru Miyauchi swings and misses again. The keeper gathers this and removes the bails, asking for stumping, but the umpire turns it down.

Darted around off, Wataru Miyauchi goes for the drive but misses out.

FOUR! Edged away to the fence. Floated around off, Wataru Miyauchi has a swing at it, gets it edged off the outside and the ball races past the right of the first slip fielder for a boundary.

Full and wide of off, Makoto Taniyama works this through the on-side for one.

Full and on off. Makoto Taniyama knocks it to long off for a single.

Wide! Down leg, bowled on a length. Makoto swings at it but fails to connect.

Short and on off, that is punched off the back foot, but straight to cover.

Full and at the sticks. Wataru sweeps it in front of square on the leg side for one.

Around off, fuller in length. Wataru nudges it to mid-wicket.

At the stumps and it is full. Wataru goes for the sweep but ekes out an inside edge onto the pads.

On off, on a length. Wataru Miyauchi blocks it out.

OUT! TIMBER! Another double-wicket maiden for Arab Gul. A googly, on the shorter side and around off, Suzuki rocks back, looking to cut but fails to make contact. The ball sneaks through and clips the top of off stump. The debutant now has 4 wickets and will have one more over to complete a memorable five-wicket haul.

Beaten! This is the googly, short and on off. Suzuki hops back to push it away but is beaten past the outside edge.

A loud shout for LBW, but the impact is outside the line of the off stump. Declan walks across and has a heave across the line but misses to get hit on the pads.

DROPPED! In and out of Najibullah Zadran's grasp. Top spinner by Gull, flatter and shorter, on off. Suzuki attempts the reverse sweep. Gets a bit of the glove as the ball balloons behind towards slip. Zadran gets low to his left and takes the catch but as his elbows hit the turf, the ball pops out of his grasp, and he can't keep hold of the ball.

OUT! CAUGHT! Arab Gul has his third wicket on debut. Flighted delivery, on middle and leg. Ibrahim Takahashi gets down on a knee and swings to go down the ground but his body weight stays back. That results in him only getting the height and not the distance. Ismat Alam moves to his left at long on and gobbles it up.

This is the googly, on middle and leg. Ibrahim Takahashi brings his bat out in front and defends it out.

Pushes the length up, on off. Ibrahim Takahashi drives it to long off and retains the strike with a single.

Spinning back in, on a good length, on middle. Ibrahim Takahashi attempts the reverse but he misses due to the turn and bounce and wears it high on the thigh pad.

Hangs it up there, on off. Wataru Miyauchi leans across and knocks it to long off. They cross.

Full and at the sticks, this is driven through mid on for a single.

Tossed up, on off. Ibrahim Takahashi eases it back to the bowler.

Short and spinning back in, on middle. Ibrahim nudges it to mid-wicket.

OUT! CAUGHT! Arab Gul wins the battle between the two young men. Floated up, on off, Charlie springs onto the front foot and tries to go downtown. He fails to get any sort of elevation. Hits it flat and straight down the throat of Ismat Alam at long off, who is well in off the ropes. 53/3 has become 60/6 for Japan, who require 70 runs from 48 balls.

Quicker through the air, on middle, stays short. Charlie pivots on the back foot but is rushed and wears it on the box.

Spinning back in, on the shorter side, on middle and leg. Charlie goes deep in the crease but is beaten by the turn and gets hit on the thigh pad.

Short and flat, on the off stump. Charlie Hara-Hinze stabs it down off the back foot.

Across off, it is another googly, fuller in length. Charlie pushes it to cover.

OUT! DRAGGED ON! Arab Gul gets in on the act now. Dishes out the googly, on a good length, on off and middle. Reo Sakurano-Thomas hangs back to deal with it but does not pick the variation. He extends his hands to push it away but the ball spins back to graze the inside edge before clattering into the middle stump. Japan are now 5 down for 60.

Fractionally short, it spins back in to cramp the right-hander for room, Takahashi pushes it to cover.

Flighted up, on middle. Ibrahim wrists it to mid-wicket.

Flat and short, on off. Ibrahim taps it back to the bowler.

OUT! CASTLED! Najibullah Zadran strikes in his first over. Tossed up on middle, Shirai-Patmore charges down the track and swings across the line, but misses completely. The ball sneaks past the inside edge and crashes into the stumps. A big blow for Japan, who are 60/4 and need 70 runs from 57 balls.

Slows it down, full and around leg from around the wicket. Shirai-Patmore walks inside the line for the sweep but fails to make any connection.

Dropped short, on off. Reo slaps it to deep cover for a single.

Fired in at the pads, Shirai-Patmore goes for a paddle sweep but misses.

Quicker one, on the pads, Shirai-Patmore goes for a reverse sweep again but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Fuller on the pads, Shirai-Patmore tucks this to short fine leg.

Fuller around middle and off, Reo Sakurano-Thomas slogs it towards the deep mid-wicket region for a single.

LEG BYE! Fuller down the leg side, Shirai-Patmore hops across to nudge it away but is beaten by the turn. It goes off the pads to short fine leg for a leg bye.

Short of a length, on off, Reo Sakurano-Thomas punches this down to long on for a single.

Too full, on middle and off, Shirai-Patmore lunges for the block but the ball goes away from him and beats him.

Tossed up, around the pads, Shirai-Patmore brings out the reverse but doesn't connect at all.

Full and around off, Shirai-Patmore attempts the drive but misses.

Darted onto the pads, Reo Sakurano-Thomas clips it to fine leg for one.

Full and on middle and off, Shirai-Patmore pushes this back to the bowler. A misfield by the bowler allows the single.

Short and on off, Shirai-Patmore stabs it down.

Quicker one, around off, Reo Sakurano-Thomas goes deep inside the crease and looks to keep it out. Gets a leading edge that falls short of point.

Fuller around off, Shirai-Patmore taps it around point for a single.

OUT! TIMBER! This is exactly the response Afghanistan needed at this stage to halt Japan's momentum. Under-cutter, on off, Benjamin Ito-Davis looks to dab this around the third man region but misses and sees his stumps shattered. Japan are 53/3, needing 77 runs in 74 balls.

FOUR! Afghanistan are under the pump here against Japan. Short of a length, on middle and off, Benjamin Ito-Davis rocks back and pulls this in the gap towards the cow corner region for a boundary. Japan go past 50.

Pushed through on the pads, Benjamin Ito-Davis nudges this through mid-wicket for a brace.

SIX! Kharote has been tonked over the fence. Tossed up, on middle and off, Benjamin Ito-Davis clears his front foot, plants it to his leg side, and slog sweeps this over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

On a length, around middle and off, Benjamin Ito-Davis pushes this through mid on for a single.

FOUR! Benjamin Ito-Davis uses the pace on offer by Karim Janat and carves this away for four. Good length, around off, Benjamin Ito-Davis just opens his bat face and guides this to the left of the deep point fielder for a boundary.

Hard length, on middle and off, Benjamin Ito-Davis keeps it out.

Lands it on a length, around the pads, Reo Sakurano-Thomas tucks this wide to the left of mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! A fortunate way to get the ball away to the fence. Short and on middle and off, Reo Sakurano-Thomas shimmies down the track and swings for that break-free sort of stroke. Gets it edged off the outside, and the ball beats the third man fielder to his left for four runs.

Good length, on middle and leg, Reo Sakurano-Thomas tucks this to mid-wicket for no run.

Fired around off, Benjamin Ito-Davis hangs onto his back foot and keeps it out. After 6 overs, Japan are 31/2, needing 99 runs in 84 balls.

OUT! TIMBER! The skipper of Japan departs. Flighted, around off, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming goes down on one knee to sweep it but misses out completely. The ball spins back and hits the top of off to dislodge the bail and send Kendel back.

Full and down the leg side, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming goes for a sweep but misses and gets it clipped off his pads to short fine leg.

Short of a length, around off, Reo Sakurano-Thomas rocks onto his back foot and slaps this through mid off for a single.

Drifts one into the batter, and takes it away after pitching. Reo Sakurano-Thomas looks to hit this downtown but gets beaten.

Too full, on middle and off, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming flicks this through mid on for a single.

FOUR! Janat finishes with a loose ball, and Reo makes him pay. Full and drifting onto the pads, with fine leg up inside the circle. Sakurano-Thomas clips it to the left of the short fine leg fielder and picks up a boundary.

On a nagging length, it kicks up a bit, on middle. Reo Sakurano-Thomas drops it beside the strip on the leg side. So far, so good by Janat. Can he finish well?

Bowled by going wide on the crease, on the off stump, on a good length. Reo knocks it to cover.

Wide. Down leg, on a short of a length. Reo misses out on the glance.

That kept low. Fuller in length, outside off. Reo Sakurano-Thomas backs away and flashes at the ball but it does not rise much and sneaks under the blade. It bounces awkwardly for the keeper, Mohammad Ishaq but he is equal to the task.

Angled in at the pads, on a length. Reo gets beaten on the flick and wears it on the front pad.

Janat is right on the money. Hits the good length, angled in at the sticks. Reo dabs it to point. Kendel sets off for the run before being sent back.

Pace taken off and Faridoon goes into the wicket, on middle. Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming swings across for the pull but is undone by the slowness of the ball and he fails to connect. Faridoon Dawoodzai also has a chirp at the batter but the Japanese skipper does not respond.

Following the batter with a good-length delivery. Kendel can only tap it back to the bowler.

Bowled on a length, on off. Reo throws his hands at the ball but it goes down to deep third for a single.

Not in control but safe. Very full, near the tramline. Reo gives the bowler a premeditated charge and reaches across to make some contact with the ball. Slices it off the outer half behind point. It lands in front of the charging deep third fielder. Reo commits to the second run and puts in a dive to get home before the throw arrives.

A swing and a miss! Faridoon Dawoodzai rolls his fingers over the ball and it cuts across the right-hander. Reo puts his head down and swings for the hills but is beaten past the outside edge.

Across off, on a good length. Reo taps it to cover.

Switches to around the wicket and hits the hard length, around off. Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming walks across the stumps and tries to help it away but misses.

FOUR! Up and over! Full and angled away. Kendel backs away and exposes all three stumps. He gets under the ball and lofts it over extra cover for a four.

Going away, on a nagging length. Kendel steers it to backward point.

Just outside the off stump, on a good length. Reo runs it down to deep third and crosses over.

FOUR! Cleverly played. On a hard length, outside off. Reo rises with the bounce and extends his hands to glide it between backward point and deep third for a boundary.

Across off, on a length. Kendel backs away, looking to go through the off side but mishits it to the left of mid on for a single.

Short and wide of off, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming cuts this on the bounce to deep third for one. Abdollah Ahmadzai could have gone for the catch but he decided to stay back and save the boundary.

Back of a length, onto the pads, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming backs away and swings but misses again.

Faridoon Dawoodzai hits the hard length, angling into the batter around his pads, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming looks to hit this around the on-side but misses out.

SIX! Probably the best batter on the Japan side has hit the first six of this Japan innings. Pitched-up delivery, on middle and leg, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming stays leg side and smashes this over the long on fence for a biggie.

On off, on a good length. Reo taps it wide of cover and takes a single.

Had to hurry! Faridoon goes full in search of swing but ends up bowling a full toss, on middle. Kendel knocks it wide of mid off and sneaks in a quick single.

End of a probing first over by Abdollah Ahmadzai. Spears in the yorker and it tails back in at the toes. Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming is knocked off his feet and gets pinged on the boot. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes behind square on the leg side.

Hooping back in at pace, on a length, around leg. Kendel is beaten on the flick and wears it on the front pad. An optimistic shout for LBW, but the ball was missing another set of sticks.

Bashes the hard length, closer to the off stump. Kendel flashes but fails to make any connection.

Wide. Wayward by Ahmadzai, well wide on off. Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming lets it be.

OUT! TAKEN! Abdollah Ahmadzai strikes early and he has his arms aloft in celebration. A well-directed short ball, angled at the bodyline of the batter. Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake swivels and tries to take on the short ball but the ball gets big on him and it catches the top edge. It goes down to deep fine leg, where Karim Janat takes the catch just in front of the ropes. Japan are 0/1, chasing 130.

On a back of a length, a bit of width on off. Lachlan flat bats it down the ground. Abdollah Ahmadzai makes a sharp stop to his left and follows it up with a stare at the batter.

Wow, a nasty delivery to receive first up. On a hard length, on off. Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake hops to flay it away but is beaten for pace.