Japan vs Afghanistan Live ஸ்கோர், Match 1 of Asian Games Men’s T20I, 2026

More action to come - Right, Group A is up and running at the 2026 Asian Games, with Afghanistan getting on the board. It is a quick turnaround for them, as they face Nepal on Friday, 25 September, while Japan will take on Nepal next on Saturday, 26 September. There is one more game coming up today, with Hong Kong, China taking on Malaysia in a Group B clash. The first ball is set to be bowled at 5 am GMT. We look forward to having your company then. Cheers!

If it seams, it spins - That was certainly the case early on, as the new ball moved around off the deck while the surface also offered plenty of turn. The odd ball kept low as well, making for challenging conditions for Afghanistan, who were asked to bat first. Japan kept the scoring in check through the middle phase, but the final 4 overs went for 45 runs. Darwis Rasooli and Mohammad Ishaq provided the lift Afghanistan's innings so desperately needed and helped them reach 129.

Gul spins Japan out - Even though it was a second-string attack, there was enough quality in the Afghan ranks to test a side like Japan, particularly on a wicket that offered help to both pacers and spinners. Up front, it was the Afghan new-ball attack that troubled the Japanese batters with pace, to which the home side did fight fire with fire. But the real challenge was always going to come against the spinners, and once they took over, Japan found it difficult to keep the scoreboard moving and were eventually spun into submission. 8 wickets fell to spin, with leg-spinner Arab Gul being the pick of the bowlers on debut. He finished with 4 wickets, including two double-wicket maidens.

Afghanistan off to a winning start - Silver medallists from the previous edition, Afghanistan have begun their bid to go one better this time around with a win. They had to fight their way to a competitive total with the bat, but the quality of their bowling attack was on full display. Japan struggled to put up much of a fight with the bat. They showed promise with the ball, much like they did recently against India, but Afghanistan pulled away from them with the bat in the final four overs to make the chase more challenging.

OUT! TIMBER! Afghanistan win by 48 runs. Under-cutter, on middle and off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater goes down on one knee and looks for a slog sweep but misses, and the ball goes on and smashes into the timber.

Quicker one, around off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater dabs this to the third man region for a brace.

Pushed through around off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater defends it out.

Nangeyalia Kharote to bowl the final over of the innings.

Way too full, on middle and off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater squeezes it out to the right of the bowler and takes one as the ball rolls to mid on.

Yorker, around off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater looks for a reverse lap but misses out.

Back of a length, on off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater stabs it down.

On a length, around off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater carves this to point.

Good length, on middle and off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater jams it out.

Yorker, on off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater digs it out.

Karim Janat is back.

Back of a length, around off, Shoma Sugaya-Slater drags this down to long on for one run.

Good length, on middle and off, Makoto Taniyama looks to flick it away but gets a top edge that flies down to the third man region for a single.

Full and around off, Makoto Taniyama pushes this past the left of the bowler for a dot.

Back of a length, around leg, Shoma Sugaya-Slater flat bats this to the right of the bowler. Single taken.

Slower one, on the pads, Shoma Sugaya-Slater keeps it out.

Faridoon Dawoodzai is yet to get on the wickets column, and the left-arm seamer will dearly love to end the innings with a wicket to his name.

Full and on middle and leg, Makoto Taniyama pushes this down to long on for a single.

On a length, around middle and leg, Shoma Sugaya-Slater backs away and looks to hit this down the ground but misses out. The ball somehow bounces over the leg stump.

Shoma Sugaya-Slater is the last man in.

OUT! CASTLED! The yorker has done the trick for Abdollah Ahmadzai. Yorker, on off, Wataru Miyauchi exposes his stumps by moving away to his leg and looks to slice this through point, but the ball sneaks under the blade and rattles the timber.

Good length, on middle and off, Wataru Miyauchi punches this down to long off for two runs.

Back of a length, around off, Wataru Miyauchi looks for a square cut but fails to connect.

Full and around off, Wataru Miyauchi drives this to extra cover.

Back of a length, wide of off, Wataru Miyauchi backs away and swings at it but misses out.

Pace is back on through Abdollah Ahmadzai.