Birmingham: The Indian women’s blind cricket team Saturday scripted history as it won a gold medal after defeating Australia in the rain-curtailed final of the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Games 2023 on the back of their scintillating show here.
The Indian women’s blind cricket team has won everyone’s hearts with their spectacular show at the World Games. The Women In Blue remain undefeated, having won all their league games in the tournament.
India restricted Australia to 114/8 in the allotted 20 overs and then chased down the revised target of 42 in the fourth over.
Blind cricket made its debut in IBSA World Games last week with England and Australia playing the first match.
This was the first final in the World Games and India won the ultimate showdown beating Australia by 9 wickets.
Opting to bat first, Australia got off to a poor start as the side lost the first wicket in the 4th over. Feeling the pressure of finals, Australia carried their innings slowly, scoring 29 runs in the Power-play.
India picked two wickets in the eighth and ninth over as Australia were left reeling at 39/3. C. Lewis and C. Webeck then carried Australia’s innings stitching a 54-run partnership. However, India came back into the game picking wickets at regular intervals reducing Australia to 109/8. In the end, the team from Down Under was just able to score 114/8 in the allotted 20 overs.
Chasing a paltry target of 42 runs, India came all guns blazing against the Australian bowlers. The Women In Blue never looked out of form as the side chased down the target in just 3.3 overs.
In another thrilling encounter, the Indian men’s blind cricket team will meet arch-rivals Pakistan in the final of the IBSA World Games. Pakistan had defeated India by 18 runs when the two teams began their World Games campaign last week.
India will now look to take revenge on arch-rivals Pakistan as the two teams meet for the second time in the tournament.
Brief Scores:
Australia 114/8 in 20 overs lost to India women 43/1 by 9 wickets via DLS method.
IANS
