Afghanistan vs Japan, Match 1, Sep 24, 2026: commentary
| Afghanistan | 129/6 | 20.0 ov |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 81 | 19.3 ov |
Afghanistan win by 48 runs
Result
Afghanistan win by 48 runs
What the reporting says
Arab Gul took 4 for 8 on T20I debut, and Nangeyalia Kharote backed him with 3 for 19 in Afghanistan's defence of 129.
Afghanistan opened their Asian Games campaign with a 48-run win over Japan.
Both Afghanistan and Japan still face Nepal in Group A, with the top two going to the quarter-finals.
Darwish Rasooli captained Afghanistan and scored 29 in their 129 for 6.
Japan's Shoma Sugaya-Slater and Ibrahim Takahashi each took two wickets, while Mohammad Ishaq made an unbeaten 25 off 17 for Afghanistan.
Facts taken from the stories linked beside them, each from a sentence in the original.
JAP 1ST
- 19.3
Over 20. 2 runs. Bowler: Nangyalai Kharoti. Japan: 81/10(rr 4.05)
- 19.3
OUT! Bowled. Nangyalai Kharoti to Shoma Sugaya-Slater. Stock length ball, off stump on the front foot slog sweeping, missed. Afghanistan win this match by 48 runs after a commanding bowling performance restricting Japan to 81 all out in 19.3 overs. Arab Gul was the standout performer, claiming four wickets for just eight runs, while Nangyalai Kharoti added three wickets to keep Japan under constant pressure. Abdullah Ahmadzai also contributed with two important wickets. Japan's innings struggled to build partnerships, with Reo Sakurano-Thomas top-scoring with 23 and Benjamin Ito-Davis providing a brief attacking contribution. Afghanistan maintained control throughout the innings, striking regularly and preventing Japan from recovering. The disciplined bowling effort ensured a comfortable victory and a strong finish for Afghanistan.
- 19.2
Nangyalai Kharoti to Shoma Sugaya-Slater. Stock length ball, outside off stump down the track Steer, Played to third man for 2 runs, fielded by Ahmadzai.
- 19.1
Nangyalai Kharoti to Shoma Sugaya-Slater. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the back foot defending, Played back to bowler for no runs.
- 19.0
Over 19. 1 run. Bowler: Karim Janat. Japan: 79/9(rr 4.16)
- 18.6
Karim Janat to Shoma Sugaya-Slater. Half volley, down leg side on the front foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid on for 1 run, fielded by Ahmadzai.
- 18.5
Karim Janat to Shoma Sugaya-Slater. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot Scoop, missed for no runs, fielded by Rahimi.
- 18.4
Karim Janat to Shoma Sugaya-Slater. Off cutter length ball, wide outside off stump on the back foot pushing, Played in the air uncontrolled to short extra cover for no runs, fielded by Eisakhil.
- 18.3
Karim Janat to Shoma Sugaya-Slater. Reverse Swing-In length ball, outside off stump on the back foot driving, Played to backward point for no runs, run save by Zadran.
- 18.2
Karim Janat to Shoma Sugaya-Slater. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, Played to cover for no runs, fielded by Rasooli.
- 18.1
Karim Janat to Shoma Sugaya-Slater. Off cutter yorker, middle stump on the front foot defending, Played to gully for no runs, fielded by Rahimi.
- 18.0
Over 18. 4 runs. Bowler: Faridoon Dawoodzai. Japan: 78/9(rr 4.33)
- 17.6
Faridoon Dawoodzai to Shoma Sugaya-Slater. Back of a length, outside off stump backing away driving, Played to long on for 1 run, fielded by Alam.
- 17.5
Faridoon Dawoodzai to Makoto Taniyama. Length ball, down leg side on the front foot Slog, top edge in the air uncontrolled to third man for 1 run, fielded by Ahmadzai.
- 17.4
Faridoon Dawoodzai to Makoto Taniyama. Off cutter length ball, to leg on the front foot driving, Played to mid off for no runs, fielded by Khan.
- 17.3
Faridoon Dawoodzai to Shoma Sugaya-Slater. Back of a length, down leg side backing away pulling, mis-timed to mid wicket for 1 run, mis-fielded by Dawoodzai, fielded by Momand.
- 17.2
Faridoon Dawoodzai to Shoma Sugaya-Slater. Off cutter half volley, down leg side backing away working, Played back to bowler for no runs.
- 17.1
Faridoon Dawoodzai to Makoto Taniyama. Length ball, down leg side on the front foot Slog, Played to long on for 1 run, fielded by Alam.
- 17.0
Over 17. 2 runs. Bowler: Abdullah Ahmadzai. Japan: 74/9(rr 4.35)
- 16.6
Abdullah Ahmadzai to Shoma Sugaya-Slater. Half volley, down leg side on the front foot defending, missed for no runs, fielded by Rahimi.
- 16.5
OUT! Bowled. Abdullah Ahmadzai to Wataru Miyauchi. Yorker, outside off stump on the front foot driving, missed. The batter missed the line completely.
- 13.6
OUT! Bowled. Arab Gul to Declan Suzuki-McComb. Leg spinner length ball, outside off stump on the back foot Slog, missed. Arab Gul gets his fourth wicket.
- 13.2
OUT! Caught. Arab Gul to Ibrahim Takahashi. Leg spinner length ball, to leg on the front foot slog sweeping, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long on, caught by Alam. Another one bites the dust.
- 11.6
OUT! Caught. Arab Gul to Charlie Hara-Hinze. Leg spinner length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long off, caught by Alam. Second wicket of the over.
- 11.1
OUT! Bowled. Arab Gul to Reo Sakurano-Thomas. Googly length ball, off stump on the back foot working, missed. Knocked him over.
- 10.3
OUT! Bowled. Najibullah Zadran to Alex Shirai-Patmore. Off break length ball, outside off stump down the track Slog, missed. Japan are in trouble as they lose their fourth wicket.
- 7.4
OUT! Bowled. Nangyalai Kharoti to Benjamin Ito-Davis. Stock length ball, middle stump on the front foot pushing, missed. Cleaned him up.
- 5.5
OUT! Bowled. Nangyalai Kharoti to Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming. Stock ball half volley, outside off stump on the front foot slog sweeping, missed. You miss, I hit.
- 0.3
OUT! Caught. Abdullah Ahmadzai to Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake. Short, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, top edge in the air uncontrolled to fine leg, caught by Janat. That's a great start for Afghanistan!
AFG 1ST
- 20.0
Over 20. 8 runs. Bowler: Shoma Sugaya-Slater. Afghanistan: 129/6(rr 6.45)
- 19.6
OUT! Caught. Shoma Sugaya-Slater to Ismat Alam. Length ball, outside off stump down the track Slog, top edge in the air uncontrolled, caught by Shirai-Patmore. Taken! Afghanistan's innings comes to an end as they finish on 129/6. Japan's bowlers put on an impressive display, picking up wickets at regular intervals and keeping Afghanistan under control. Mohammad Akram top-scored with 34. For Japan, Shoma Sugaya-Slater and Ibrahim Takahashi picked up two wickets each. Can Japan chase down this target, or will Afghanistan's bowlers restrict them? Do join us for the run chase shortly.
- 19.5
Shoma Sugaya-Slater to Mohammad Ishaq. Length ball, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to deep square leg for 1 run, fielded by Suzuki-McComb.
- 19.4
Shoma Sugaya-Slater to Ismat Alam. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long on for 1 run, dropped catch by Ito-Davis.
- 19.3
Shoma Sugaya-Slater to Ismat Alam. Slower ball back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, top edge in the air uncontrolled to third man for 2 runs, run save by Takahashi.
- 19.3
Wide Shoma Sugaya-Slater to Ismat Alam. Length ball, wide outside off stump on the back foot Leave, left for 1 run, fielded by Shirai-Patmore.
- 19.3
Wide Shoma Sugaya-Slater to Ismat Alam. Back of a length, wide outside off stump on the front foot Leave, left for 1 run, fielded by Shirai-Patmore.
- 19.2
OUT! Caught. Shoma Sugaya-Slater to Darwish Rasooli. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to deep cover, caught by Miyauchi.
- 19.1
Shoma Sugaya-Slater to Mohammad Ishaq. Reverse Swing-In length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long on for 1 run, fielded by Ito-Davis.
- 19.1
Wide Shoma Sugaya-Slater to Mohammad Ishaq. Length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot Leave, left for 1 run, fielded by Shirai-Patmore.
- 19.0
Over 19. 13 runs. Bowler: Charlie Hara-Hinze. Afghanistan: 121/4(rr 6.37)
- 18.6
Charlie Hara-Hinze to Mohammad Ishaq. Stock length ball, wide outside off stump on the back foot cutting, Played in the air under control to deep cover for 1 run, fielded by Suzuki-McComb.
- 18.5
Charlie Hara-Hinze to Mohammad Ishaq. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the back foot cutting, Played to extra cover for no runs, fielded by Miyauchi.
- 18.4
SIX! Charlie Hara-Hinze to Mohammad Ishaq. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, well timed in the air under control over long on for 6 runs.
- 18.3
Charlie Hara-Hinze to Mohammad Ishaq. Stock length ball, off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to deep mid wicket for 2 runs, fielded by Yamamoto-Lake.
- 18.2
Charlie Hara-Hinze to Mohammad Ishaq. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the front foot sweeping, missed for no runs, fielded by Shirai-Patmore.
- 18.1
FOUR! Charlie Hara-Hinze to Mohammad Ishaq. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the back foot cutting, well timed in the air under control past deep extra cover for 4 runs.
- 18.0
Over 18. 14 runs. Bowler: Declan Suzuki-McComb. Afghanistan: 108/4(rr 6.00)
- 17.6
Declan Suzuki-McComb to Darwish Rasooli. Yorker, outside off stump on the front foot driving, Played back to bowler for no runs.
- 17.5
FOUR! Declan Suzuki-McComb to Darwish Rasooli. Slower ball back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, well timed in the air under control past deep mid wicket for 4 runs.
- 15.1
OUT! Caught. Ibrahim Takahashi to Najibullah Zadran. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long on, caught by Yamamoto-Lake. Holes out at long-on.
- 12.4
OUT! Stumped. Benjamin Ito-Davis to Mohammad Akram. Off break length ball, outside off stump down the track Slog, missed, by Shirai-Patmore. Three down for Afghanistan.
- 9.2
OUT! Caught. Ibrahim Takahashi to Karim Janat. Arm length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long off, caught by Yamamoto-Lake. In the air and gone.
- 3.1
OUT! L.B.W. Reo Sakurano-Thomas to Hassan Eisakhil. Seaming in length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, hit pad. Up goes the finger.