Afghanistan defeats Japan by 48 runs in Asian Games opener

Afghanistan opened its men’s cricket campaign at the Asian Games with a 48-run win over Japan on September 24, dismissing the hosts for 81 after posting 129 for six in 20 overs. The Group A match was played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, where Japan had elected to bowl first. Mohammad Akram led Afghanistan’s scoring with 34 runs from 29 balls. Captain Darwish Rasooli made 29, and Mohammad Ishaq added an unbeaten 25 from 17 deliveries to help Afghanistan reach 129. Japan’s Shoma Sugaya-Slater and Ibrahim Takahashi each took two wickets. Japan’s reply was led by Reo Sakurano-Thomas, who scored 23 from 24 balls. Benjamin Ito-Davis made 17 from eight deliveries, while captain Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming scored 14. Afghanistan’s bowlers restricted the hosts to 81, with Arab Gul taking four wickets for eight runs and Nangeyalia Kharote claiming three for 19. Abdullah Ahmadzai took two wickets for 13 runs. Japan’s chase had reached 53 before it lost a series of wickets, but accounts differ on whether the score at that stage was 53 for two or 53 for three. The available match reports agree that Japan then suffered a sharp collapse, falling to 63 for eight before being dismissed in 19.