BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan blind cricket team continued their undefeated streak in the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Blind Games and crushed arch-rivals India in the final by eight wickets to win the Gold medal on Saturday.
This was Pakistan’s fifth consecutive victory in the tournament, after kicking off the tournament with a victory over the same opponents.
India blind cricket team opted to bat first and started the innings in a dominant manner with a 65-run opening stand between VR Dunna (20) and DR Tompaki before Mohammad Salman bowled the former in the seventh over.
Tompaki then stitched a solid partnership of 41 with NB Tumda (22) to help the team breach the 100-run mark, however, Matiullah ran out Tumba to give Pakistan its second wicket.
S Ramesh then joined Tompaki and dominated Pakistani bowling with a quick 65-run partnership to help India post a total of 184 in their allocated 20 overs.
Tompaki scored a 76 runs innings off 57 balls, laced with 11 boundaries, while Ramesh remained unbeaten at 48 off 29 with the help of eight boundaries.
Congratulations to the Pakistan blind cricket for clinching gold at the IBSA World Games 2023 Birmingham 👏🥇
They remained unbeaten in the tournament, winning five games 🙌 pic.twitter.com/fLXIdiyCGc
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 26, 2023
Pakistan team in response raced to 78 runs in the seventh over before captain Nisar Ali departed after scoring 36 off 30. Meanwhile, the other opening batter Matiullah (18) also departed two overs later reducing Pakistan to 96-2 inside nine overs.
However, this proved to be the last success for the Indian side in the game, as Badar Munir and Mohammad Salman knitted an unbeaten 89-run partnership in 32 deliveries to finish the game in the 15th over to hand India an eight-wicket defeat.
Badar Munir scored a brisk 41 off 16, laced with seven boundaries and one six, while Mohammad Salman accumulated 48 runs off 25 balls.
India gave away 42 runs in extras, with 28 wide balls.
Pakistan are our men's cricket winners at the IBSA World Games 🇵🇰🎉
India VI Men184/3
Pakistan VI Men185/2Pakistan VI Men won by 8 wickets
📸 Maitrayi Buddhdev pic.twitter.com/lgsYnJ6scP
— IBSA World Games 2023 (@IBSAGames2023) August 26, 2023
Notably, Pakistan kick-started their World Blind Games campaign with an 18-run victory over arch-rivals India before handing a seven-wicket thrashing to Bangladesh.
Pakistan blind cricket team then booked their spot in the final of the tournament with a resounding six-wicket victory over Australia before handing a six-wicket defeat to England in their final group stage match.
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