JPN vs IND Ball by Ball Commentary

Swings hard, but cannot connect cleanly. Japan were so, so, so, close to create history, but unfortunately, it wasn't to be. India win by 2 runs! Though not before being made to huff and puff for it. Fuller in length, on the middle and leg stump line. Shirai-Patmore goes low and goes for the sweep but gets it off the inside half of the bat, and the ball rolls to short fine leg for a single only.

Goes flatter and shorter, outside off, Benjamin Ito-Davis stands tall and hammers it wide of long off for a single. 4 runs needed from the final ball. Any dramas?

Full and outside off, quicker one. Shirai-Patmore gets down down on a knee and slogs it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

WIDE! Another extra conceded, oh dear! Down leg, on a length, and Shirai-Patmore goes for the reverse sweep once more but fails to make contact. Wide is signalled again, and this time it is Axar who is absolutely fuming at the call, protesting that the batter had looked to switch his stance fairly early, well before the ball was even released. Belatedly, though, the decision gets overturned, and it is ruled a fair delivery after all.

WIDE! Samson is not very impressed with the decision as it came a tad belatedly. Good length, down leg, and turning further away. Shirai-Patmore goes for the reverse sweep but is beaten on the edge.

On a length, just outside off. Ito-Davis mistimes his lofted shot toward long off, and manages just the one.

Slides in on a length, on middle and leg, and turns away with bounce. Benjamin Ito-Davis has a big hoick across the line, looking to loft it over the leg side but misses and the ball passes over the stumps.

OUT! CAUGHT! The Japanese skipper falls. Washington darts this one in, quick through the air and landing just outside off. Fleming looks to muscle it back over the bowler's head once more, but doesn't connect the way he wants to, and the ball skies off the leading edge, straight into the safe hands of short third where Yash Thakur takes a dolly. Japan are 25/3, needing 8 runs from 6 balls.

Beaten! Sharp turn, on a length, outside off, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming tries to play the reverse sweep but gets comprehensively beaten.

Uppish but lands safely! Quicker and flatter, shorter on off, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming lofts it off the toe end of the bat, over mid off. Tilak Varma runs over his right shoulder and puts in a dive to pluck the ball but it falls out of his reach. The batters scamper through for the second run. 8 runs needed from 8 balls.

Stump-to-stump line, spinning in and around middle, Benjamin Ito-Davis gets a bit crouched and pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

On a shorter length, on middle, Benjamin Ito-Davis lofts it over mid on. Tilak Varma runs to his left to cut it by palming the ball in before the ropes at long on. Two more runs taken. Good hustle between the wickets. 11 needed from 10 balls for Japan.

In the air... safe! Good work there in the deep. Good length on middle stump. Benjamin drags it away across the line, finding the gap to the left of deep backward square leg. Bishnoi dives but can't get a hand on it, and they run two.

A short delivery on the stumps, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming stands tall and flat-bats it wide of long on for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Goes past the fielder! Clever shot from the skipper. Too quick on a length, outside the off stump. Kendel shuffles outside off and plays the scoop shot over the keeper's head. The man from deep fine leg runs across and dives but his effort goes in vain as the ball seeps into the fence.

A direct hit at the bowling end! But there is no third umpire review available to check. Fuller, a googly, outside off. Kadowaki-Fleming chops it away to short cover and they rush through for a single. Iyer swoops in to cut it off and has a shy at the bowler's end, hitting the stumps perfectly. India go up in appeal for the run out which is turned down by the umpire, it seems. The ball ricochets away to deep mid-wicket, and the batters cash in for two runs.

WIDE! Miles outside off, on a length, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming throws his bat at it to access the off side but the ball keeps drifting away and breaches the tramline.

Full and on the leg stump, another googly by Ravi. Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming employs the reverse sweep but misses and the ball hits his thigh pad before rolling to the right of Samson.

Drifts it far outside off and this is the googly that outfoxes the left-hander. Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming looks to smash it away but misses to connect.

Short and quick, outside off with a massive away turn. Benjamin Ito-Davis fetches it and drags it down to long on for a single. No timing whatsoever.

Dropped short and drifting into the batter, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming goes deep inside the crease and bunts it down the pitch.

A touch short and outside off, and Benjamin Ito-Davis pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! Sundar takes revenge right away. Slows it up through the air this time and gives it a good flight. Lands it full on the stumps and the ball bits back into the batter. Ibrahim Takahashi once again opts to take on the bowler with a slog sweep, but mistimes it badly off the inner half of the bat and offers a catching practice to Ravi Bishnoi stationed at deep square leg. Japan are 7/2, chasing 33 runs.

FOUR! Exceptional hit! A lot quicker and fuller from Sundar, full on middle, Ibrahim Takahashi gets low on his knee and plays with the spin. Slogs it aerially over the leg side and bisects the deep square leg and deep mid-wicket fielders to perfection for a boundary. Japan are 7/1 in the Powerplay.

Dropped short and around off, turning away sharply. Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming hangs back and knocks it through cover-point for a single.

Play and a miss! A bit full, spinning away from outside off. Kadowaki-Fleming reaches for the drive through covers but is beaten on the outside edge.

Drifts in on a length and then gets the ball to dip, turn and bounce off the track. Ibrahim Takahashi gets low on a knee to slog it powerfully over mid-wicket, but the extra bounce and turn outfoxes him.

OUT! LACHLAN IS RUN OUT! Disaster for Japan. Incredible fielding display by Ishan Kishan. Good length, outside off, and turning away. Lachlan uses his wrists to steer it away towards deep square leg. They run the first run hard and turn back for the second. Ishan Kishan sprints to his left and fires in a rapid throw at the striker's end, hitting the target dead on. Lachlan dives desperately but comes up short of his ground. The square leg umpire doesn't even need a replay, and up goes the finger straight away. Japan are 2/1, chasing 33 runs.

Keeps it far away from his hitting arc, short and turning away with bounce. Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake throws his bat at it and chops it back to the bowler.

On a fuller length around the leg stump, Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake tries the reverse sweep but misses to connect. Trying to adventurous from the get-go.

Spinning away sharply, on a length, outside off, left alone.

Japan are underway! Full and on the stumps, this is tickled by Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming to the short fine leg region for a single.