Indian women's blind cricket team wins gold, men's team settles for silver at IBSA World Games

Birmingham: The Indian women's blind cricket team on Saturday scripted history as they won a gold medal after defeating Australia in the rain-curtailed finals of the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Games 2023 on the back of their scintillating show in Birmingham here.

The Indian women's blind cricket team has won everyone's hearts with their spectacular show in the World Games. The Women In Blue remain undefeated, having won all their league games in the tournament.

India restricted Australia at 114/8 in the allotted 20 overs and then chased down the revised target of 42 in the fourth over.

Blind cricket in IBSA World Games made a debut last week with England and Australia playing the first match. This was the first final in the World Games and India won the ultimate showdown beating Australia by 9 wickets.

Opting to bat first, Australia got off to a bad start as the side lost the first wicket in the 4th over. Feeling the pressure of finals, Australia carried their innings slowly, scoring 29 runs in the powerplay.

India picked two wickets in the eighth and ninth over as Australia were left reeling at 39/3. C Lewis and C Webeck then carried Australia's innings stitching a 54-run partnership.

However, India came back in the game picking wickets at regular intervals and reduced Australia to 109/8 in just 3 overs. In the end, the team from down under was just able to score 114/8 in the allotted 20 overs.

Chasing a paltry target of 42 runs, India came all guns blazing on Australia bowlers. The Women In Blue never looked out of form as the side chased down the target in just 3.3 overs.

In another thrilling encounter, the Indian men's blind cricket team settled for a silver medal after a heavy defeat against Pakistan in the finals of IBSA World Games.

Brief Scores: India women (43/1 revised target after rain) defeat Australia (114/8) (UNI)