In the ongoing International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Games 2023, the Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams showcased their dominance with impressive victories. The men’s team secured a hard-fought triumph over Bangladesh by 3 wickets, while the women’s team outclassed Australia by a staggering 163-run margin in the matches held in Birmingham.
The Indian men’s blind cricket team displayed their experience and resilience as they overcame Bangladesh by 3 wickets. After suffering an initial defeat, the team bounced back with two consecutive victories. Opting to bat first, Bangladesh managed to score 147/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Facing a challenging target, India’s innings started on a shaky note, losing half of their wickets for just 26 runs within 6 overs. However, impressive batting performances by Nareshbhai Balubhai Tumda (28), Sunil Ramesh (20), and vice-captain Venkateswara Rao Dunna (30) led India to a close score of 165/7 in 17 overs. Additionally, Bangladesh conceded 26 penalty runs, boosting India’s total and securing their thrilling win.
In the women’s contest, India continued their stellar run in the tournament by overwhelming Australia with a significant 163-run victory. Opting to bat first, the Indian batters displayed aggression from the outset, amassing 51 runs during the powerplay. Gangavva H, batting at number 4, contributed a powerful 69 runs off 45 balls, while Simu Das played aggressively, scoring 86 runs off 39 balls. Their impressive performance guided India to a formidable total of 245/2 in 20 overs. Chasing a challenging target of 246, the Australian team struggled throughout their innings, managing to score only 82 runs for the loss of 5 wickets.
The Indian women’s cricket team will now face England in their upcoming match on Thursday, as they aim to continue their winning momentum in the IBSA World Games.
–IANS
