Arabic version: الهند تتجاوز اليابان بعد إلغاء قرار كرة واسعة

According to BBC News, world champions India avoided a shock defeat by Japan in a one-off T20 at Sano Cricket Ground, winning by two runs after a wide-ball decision was overturned in the final over. The match was reduced to five overs per side, with India making 32-4 before Japan finished on 30-3.

Japan needed eight runs from the final over after restricting India’s batting order. Spinner Axar Patel bowled the over, and left-hander Alexander Shirai-Patmore attempted a reverse sweep as a delivery passed down what would have been the leg side had he not changed his stance. The umpire initially signalled a wide.

Axar showed frustration and disputed the decision alongside India captain Shreyas Iyer. Following a discussion between the two umpires, the call was overturned. Japan then required six from three balls rather than five from four, and Axar saw out the over. He finished with 0-7 from two overs.

The ICC’s men’s T20 international playing conditions state that a batter loses wide-ball protection when changing the position of their hands or feet to play a reversed shot, with both sides of the wicket then treated as the off side. The incident drew attention because no decision review system was in place. Earlier, 17-year-old Japan spinner Charlie Hara-Hinze took 2-17, including Abhishek Sharma’s wicket with the first ball, while Iyer made 16 from 12 deliveries. It was the teams’ first international meeting and served as preparation for the men’s Asian Games, which start on 24 September.