Afghanistan defeated hosts Japan by 48 runs after defending 129 and bowling Japan out for 81 in their Asian Games opener.
Afghanistan began their men’s cricket campaign at the 2026 Asian Games with a 48-run victory over hosts Japan at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. Afghanistan posted 129 for six after being asked to bat first before their bowlers dismissed Japan for 81 in 19.3 overs.
Japan won the toss and elected to field, putting Afghanistan into bat. Mohammad Akram top-scored for Afghanistan with 34 from 29 balls, while captain Darwish Rasooli contributed 29 from 27 deliveries. Mohammad Ishaq then provided an important late contribution, remaining unbeaten on 25 from 17 balls.
Afghanistan initially lost wickets at regular intervals and were 79 for four in the 16th over. Rasooli and Ishaq then helped rebuild the innings, adding 44 runs before Afghanistan finished on 129 for six from their allotted 20 overs.
Japan began their chase needing 130 runs, but Afghanistan’s bowling attack quickly applied pressure. The hosts struggled to form partnerships and eventually lost all 10 wickets for 81 runs. Reo Sakurano-Thomas top-scored with 23, while Benjamin Ito-Davis made 17 from eight balls.
The standout performer with the ball was Arab Gul Momand, who claimed four wickets. Nangyalai Kharote also made an important contribution with three wickets, while Abdullah Ahmadzai took two. The bowling performance allowed Afghanistan to defend what initially appeared to be a modest total.
The victory gives Afghanistan an early advantage in Group A. Afghanistan will next face Nepal on September 25, while Japan are scheduled to meet Nepal on September 26. The group-stage results will determine which teams advance toward the knockout stage, with seeded teams also involved from the quarter-final stage.
For Japan, the match provided an opportunity to compete against an established international side in front of a home crowd. Despite the defeat, the tournament offers Japan valuable exposure on a major continental stage. Afghanistan, meanwhile, will look to carry the momentum from their opening win into their next group match.
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