Blind Cricket World Cup, Final Review: Clinical India chase down a target of 308 against Pakistan

Defending Champions India beat arch-rivals Pakistan in the Blind Cricket World Cup finals. They won the match by just two wickets and successfully defended the title. Also, they have lifted the glorious cup for the second time consecutively. The players were overjoyed with the emphatic win.

Beating Pakistan in a final is a magnificent feeling for any cricketer. And to do that in a world cup is just a thrilling experience. The final was earlier scheduled to be played on 21st January 2018 in Lahore. But with India qualifying to the finals meant that the venue had to be shifted. The venue was shifted to MCC Stadium in UAE. The United Arab Emirates has been the second home for Pakistan ever since the terrorist attacks in 2009.

Good first innings for Pakistan

In the fifth edition of the Blind Cricket World Cup, India won the toss in the finals. They put Pakistan into bat first. Ajay Reddy led-team put up a great show and exhibited good professionalism in the game. Batting in the first innings, Pakistan set India a huge total to chase. In their 40-overs, Pakistan managed to score 308 at the loss of 8 wickets. Pakistan feasted on Badar Munir’s half-century and fine knocks from Riyasat Khan and skipper Nisar Ali. Both these batsman played solid knocks of 48 and 47 respectively to take the total past 300.

Pakistan reached the 200-mark just after 27 overs. However, they lost five wickets by then. With not much batting left, they did well to score 108 in the next 13 overs. But losing wickets early dented their chances putting up a much higher total on board.

Sunil Ramesh and Ajay Reddy see India through

However, putting 300 runs on board in a high-intensity India-Pakistan finals was a good deal. Pakistan would have felt contended after the first innings. They scored their runs at an impressive run-rate of 7.7.

Chasing a huge 308-run target in 40 overs, India romped home in the penultimate over of the match. India started off their chase in a cracking manner racing to 111/1 after 15 overs but soon lost two quick wickets in the form of run-outs to be at 116/3 after 16th over. Sunil Ramesh and skipper Ajay Reddy, who scored a fine 62, then took the responsibility and took India’s total to 190/3 after 25 overs. India, who lost Ramesh, were 271/4 after 35 overs. Ramesh was cleaned up by Amir Ishfaq.

India stuttered towards the closing stages of the game after they lost Ajay followed by two hasty dismissals but in the end held their nerves to win the final. Although Pakistan got three consecutive wickets as India was inching towards the target, a wide-ball that went to cross the boundary confirmed India’s victory in the final. The team was in tears of joy after winning the World Cup.

Brief Scores

Pakistan 308/8 in 40 overs (Badar Munir 57, Riyasat Khan 48, Nisar Ali 47; Durga Rao 3/20)

India 309/8 in 38.5 overs (Sunil Ramesh 93, Ajay Reddy 63)

Result: India won by 2 wickets