Team India defeated Nepal by seven wickets in the title decider to win their first-ever Blind Women’s T20 World Cup in Colombo. After opting to bowl, India restricted Nepal to 114 for 5. They then chased the target easily, reaching 117 for 3 in only 12 overs. With this win, India finished the tournament unbeaten. The event also featured teams from Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the United States.
Phula Saren was India’s highest run getter, hitting 44 from 27 balls. For Nepal, Sarita Ghimire scored 35 from 38 deliveries. India and Sri Lanka were the hosts of the tournament, and the final was played at Sri Lanka’s oldest Test ground, the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium.
How is Blind cricket played?
Blind cricket uses a white plastic ball filled with ball bearings so players can hear it. Before bowling, the bowler must ask the batter if they are ready, then shout “play” and deliver the ball underarm with at least one bounce.
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Teams in Blind cricket
Each team has 11 players, but at least four must be completely blind. To make things fair, players wear blindfolds. Fielders clap once to show where they are standing.
Other players are partially sighted and grouped by how far they can see, B2 players can see up to two metres and B3 players up to six metres. Each team can have up to eight B1 players, who are totally blind. When a B1 player scores a run, it counts as two.
India defeated Australia in the semifinal
India reached the final after beating Australia in the first semifinal. Nepal got there by defeating Pakistan in the second semifinal on Saturday. Sri Lanka, the co-host, won only one match in the group stage, against the USA.
Pakistan’s Mehreen Ali, a B3 player, was the standout batter of the tournament. She scored more than 600 runs, including a 230 from 78 balls against Sri Lanka and 133 against Australia.