Korogi Sports Park: Afghanistan trounced an impressive Japanese side in the men’s cricket opener at the Asian Games 2026 as they beat the hosts in a Group A clash by 48 runs at the Korogi Sports Park on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The second-string Afghanistan team, led by Darwish Rasooli, defended a modest 129 after a decent start from Japan, with spinners doing the work to bowl the hosts out for 81 in 19.3 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Debutant leg-spinner Arab Gul Momand picked up four wickets, while left-arm finger spinner Nangeyalia Kharoti, pacer Abdullah Ahmadzai, and Najibullah Zadran shared the other six wickets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After being asked to bat first, Afghanistan managed to put 129\/6 on the board. Debutant opener Mohammad Akram scored 34 from 29 balls, while Hassan Eisakhil laboured to three from 10 deliveries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Afghanistan were reeling at 79\/4 in 15.1 overs. Captain Darwish Rasooli and wicketkeeper Mohammad Ishaq put a strong 44-run stand in 25 balls to give the much-needed impetus in the final overs after they were kept at under six an over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While Rasooli made 29 from 27 balls, it was Ishaq’s 17-ball 25 which took Afghanistan to 129\/6 in their 20 overs. For Japan, off-spinner Ibrahim Takahashi was the pick of the bowlers for his 2-19, while Shoma Sugaya-Slater scalped 2-18.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Japan lost opener Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake in the first over to Abdullah Ahmadzai for a duck, but Japan were not out of the chase as Reo Sakurano-Thomas (23), Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (14) and Benjamin Ito-Davis (17) kept ticking the scoreboard as Japan were 53\/1 in 7.3 overs and needed 77 in 75 balls however, left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharoti and Najibullah, playing his first international outing over two years, picked one wicket each before the debutant leg-spinner Gul wrecked havoc with four wickets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
At 60\/3, Japan lost their three wickets without scoring and were 63\/8 as they completely lost their way, with Gul bowling two double-wicket maiden overs to bring the game in Afghanistan’s favour.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The little fight ended soon when pacer Ahmadzai and spinner Kharoti took the final two wickets as Japan were bowled out for 81.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
At 60\/3, Japan lost their three wickets without scoring and were 63\/8 as they completely lost their way, with Gul bowling two double-wicket maiden overs to bring the game in Afghanistan’s favour.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brief Scores: Afghanistan 129\/6 in 20 overs (Mohammad Akram (34 from 29 balls, Darwish Rasooli 29 from 27 balls; Ibrahim Takahashi 2-19, Shoma Sugaya-Slater 2-18) beat Japan (Reo Sakurano-Thomas 23 from 24 balls, Benjamin Ito-Davis 17 from 8 balls; Arab Gul Momand 4-8, Nangeyalia Kharoti 3-19) by 48 runs<\/p>\r\n\r\n