Afghanistan thrash Japan by 48 runs to open Asian Games campaign
Afghanistan dominate Japan in Asian Games opener
A second-string Afghanistan side kickstarted their Asian Games 2026 campaign with a 48-run win over hosts Japan in a Group A clash at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Thursday.
Two days after Japan nearly pulled off an upset over India, they threatened to do the same to the Afghans on the back of an impressive bowling performance. But leg-spinner Arab Gul Momand wrecked the Japanese batting line-up with returns of 4-2-8-4 as the hosts were skittled out for 81 in pursuit of 130.
Japan spinners restrict Afghanistan
Japan rallied on their spinners to keep Afghanistan quiet with the bat. While one debutant opener, Mohammad Akram, top-scored for the Afghans with 34, it wasn’t a memorable outing for Hassan Eisakhil, who fell for a 10-ball 3. Karim Janat and Akram picked up a few boundaries as Afghanistan managed 39 in the Powerplay but the scoring rate did not spike considerably enough.
Janat departed in the 10th over, shortly after which Akram struck his second six, but he fell to Benjamin Ito-Davis as he failed to convert his start. Najibullah Zadran’s first international outing in over two years ended in an 11-ball 7 as Ibrahim Takahashi emerged the pick of the Japanese bowlers with 2/19.
At 84/4 after 16 overs, Afghanistan were in desperate need of a thrust. Skipper Darwish Rasooli provided that with three fours in the 18th over. Mohammad Ishaq’s breezy unbeaten 25 was just as critical, picking up a six and a four in the 19th. Shoma Suyaga-Slater struck twice in the last over, but Afghanistan managed to get to 129 by the end of it.
Collapse after steady start
Abdullah Ahmadzai struck in the opening over of the defence, and while Reo Sakurano-Thomas and skipper Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming steadied the chase in the Powerplay, the latter fell to Nangeyalia Kharoti in the last over of the Powerplay.
Ito-Davis made a splash with the bat, opening his account with a boundary before striking a six and a four off Kharoti. But he was cleaned up by the left-arm spinner for an 8-ball 17, following which the wheels came off for Japan. Najibullah struck in his first over, but it was Gul who enjoyed a field day, proving unplayable with his whippy action as he sent down two double-wicket maidens in the 12th and 14th over.
The first of those wickets was the set Sakurano-Thomas and Japan’s promising position of 53/2 soon turned pear-shaped at 63/8. Gul bowled 19 dot balls in his spell, meaning the rest of the innings was a formality. Japan dragged their innings to the final over, but were bowled out with three balls to spare as Kharoti finished with a third scalp.
Brief scores
Afghanistan 129/6 in 20 overs (Mohammad Akram 34, Darwish Rasooli 29, Mohammad Ishaq 25*; Shoma Sugaya-Slater 2-18, Ibrahim Takahashi 2-19) beat Japan 81 all out in 19.3 overs (Reo Sakurano-Thomas 23; Arab Gul Momand 4-8, Nangeyalia Kharoti 3-19, Abdullah Ahmadzai 2-13) by 48 runs.