CONTROVERSIAL WIDE AS INDIA EDGE JAPAN IN 5 OVER MATCH

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World champions India avoided a shock defeat by Japan with a tense two-run win after a wide ball was controversially overturned in the final over.

In the one-off T20, which was reduced to five overs a side, Japan needed eight off the final over after their bowlers had remarkably restricted cricketing juggernauts India to 32-4.

Left-hander Alexander Shirai-Patmore was attempting to reverse-sweep spinner Axar Patel, who bowled the ball down the leg side - which would have been the batter's off side had he been attempting a conventional shot - and the umpire called it a wide.

After the umpire's signal, Axar was visibly frustrated with the decision and disputed the call alongside captain Shreyas Iyer.

The two umpires had a discussion after India's complaints and the decision was overturned, significantly taking the equation to six runs needed off three balls instead of five off four.

Axar then closed out the over to finish with figures of 0-7 off two overs and Japan finished agonisingly short on 30-3.

- Author: Ffion Wynne, BBC