The Indian women’s blind cricket team made history by clinching the first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind with a dominant seven-wicket victory over Nepal in the final held in Colombo. India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, showcasing their complete dominance.
After winning the toss, India opted to field first and restricted Nepal to 114 for 5 in their 20 overs. The chase was executed brilliantly as India surpassed the target in just 12.1 overs with 47 balls remaining. Khula Sharir was the standout performer, scoring an unbeaten 44 off 27 balls, including four boundaries, guiding India to a comfortable win.
This victory comes only three weeks after the Indian women’s team defeated South Africa in Navi Mumbai – two significant
wins that highlight the rising status of women’s cricket in India, both in mainstream and visually impaired categories.
In the semi-final, India secured a commanding nine-wicket win over Australia, while Nepal advanced to the final by narrowly defeating Pakistan in the other semi-final encounter.
The T20 tournament, a six-team event featuring India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, and the USA, commenced on November 11 in New Delhi. After a few matches in Bengaluru, the knockout stages were held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
India’s Road to the title
- Defeated Sri Lanka by 10 wickets
- Defeated Australia by 209 runs
- Defeated Nepal by 85 runs
- Defeated the United States by 10 wickets
- Defeated Pakistan by 8 wickets
- Semifinal: Defeated Australia by 9 wickets
- Final: Defeated Nepal by 7 wickets (Colombo)
India’s emphatic title run not only underscores their consistency but also marks a significant milestone for blind cricket, paving the way for greater recognition and development of the sport in the coming years.
With IANS Inputs
