Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 15: Team India extended its unbeaten streak in the 2nd Samarth Championship for Blind Cricket with a commanding 171-run victory over South Africa at the Sai Krishnan Cricket Stadium. This marks India’s fourth consecutive win in the league stage of the five-match bilateral series.
Batting first, India posted an imposing total of 243/7 in 20 overs. The innings was powered by Sonu Rawat’s explosive 102 off just 43 balls and a composed 74 off 47 by Dinesh Rathva. In response, South Africa crumbled to 72 all out in 13.2 overs, with Indian bowlers Gambheer Singh Chauhan and Devraj Pal each claiming three wickets.
India now tops the leaderboard with four wins from four matches, further solidifying its position as tournament favourites. The bilateral series, played under the ‘Samarth by Hyundai’ initiative in collaboration with the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) and the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, aims to showcase the talent and resilience of blind cricketers.
In the first edition of the Samarth Championship, India defeated Sri Lanka. This year, the Indian men’s blind cricket team is facing off against South Africa in a five-match series that concludes on May 16.
India started the second edition of the championship on a high, defeating South Africa by eight wickets, with Deepak Malik scoring 82 off 48 and Manish Kumar contributing 45 runs. In subsequent matches, India continued its dominance, including a 65-run win and a 7-wicket victory, demonstrating strong all-round performances throughout the league phase.
The final match of the series will also be played at the Sai Krishnan Cricket Stadium in Muddenahalli, Bengaluru.