By Dhammika Ratnaweera
Sri Lankan deaf cricketers created history when they beat India by 36 runs to win the ICC Deaf T-20 cricket world cup final played at the Teri Gram Cricket grounds in Gurgaon, India, on Friday. It was a superb team effort by Sri Lankans to beat India three times in this tournament with good all round performances. This is the first time Sri Lanka deaf cricketers won the T-20 world cup and after the Sri Lankans able team won the world cup in 1996 and Sri Lankan t-20 team won the world cup in 2014.
Skipper Gimadu Malcom led the way throughout the tournament with superb all round abilities to win this major championships. Sri Lank, invited to bat first made 145 for 9 wickets in 20 overs while Indians managed to get only 109 in 17.5 overs. Skipper Malcom who was promoted to open the innings in this final top scored with 41 in equal number of deliveries striking two fours and two sixes while Sumudu Lanka made 22 in 15 balls. Ranjith Asanka 15 and Tharaka Sampath Jayasinghe 19 in 18 balls made useful contributions to build up the Sri Lanka innings. Nadeem Shaikh and Jitender Tyagi took two wickets apiece for the Indians.
India chasing a target of 146 were unable to make a good start with Vipul Patel was out in the first ball of the innings off Alenrose Kalep. Jitender Tyagi the co-opener made 21 and was out for the fourth wicket while Sai Akash made 29 runs and wicket keeper batsman Rohit Saini with 23 runs made useful contributions to reach the target.
Sri Lankan skipper Malcom bounced back well to remove both of them to send India struggling as they were bundled out for 104. runs. Malcom took 3 for 25 in 3.5 overs while Alenrose Kalep 2 for 21 and Sumadu Lanka 2 for 20 and Asanka Manjula 2 for 18 provided a good support to the skipper.
Skipper Gimadu Malcom was named the man of the final. He is also the highest scorer of this tournament with 332 runs in seven matches while taking 11 wickets with his leg spin bowling.
Sri Lanka coach Jayalath Aponsu said his team was maintaining a good team spirit throughout the tournament and their committment was very high. “We came here with lack of facilities but Sri Lanka cricket and Sport Ministry and our Sponsors HNB Assurance made very good support to this deaf cricketers. In fact winning T-20 world cup is great achievement” said Aponso.
Sri Lanka lost only one match against South Africa in the league round and finished on top after the league round to enter super three round. Sri Lanka managed to beat favorites India three times including the final.
Sri Lanka also scored the highest team total 226 for 3 wickets against Nepal in this tournament. Sri Lanka, India, Australia, South Africa and Nepal participated in this deaf cricket t-20 world cup.
Chief scores of the final
Sri Lanka145 for 9 wickets in 20 overs . Gimadu Malkam 41, Rajitha Asanka 15, Tharaka Sampath Jayasinghe 19, Sumudu Lanka 22, Nadeem Shaikh 2/17, Jitender Tyagi 2/32, Manjeet Kumar 1/20, Fahimuddin 1/20, Imran Deeb 1/12, Virendra Singh 1/16
India 109 all out in 17.5 overs Jitender Tyagi 21, Sai Akash 29, Rohit Saini 23 Fahimuddin 16 , Alenrose Kalep 2/21, Tharaka Sampath Jayasinghe 1/9,Asanka Manjula 2/18, Gimadu Malkam 3/25,Sumadu Lanka 2/20
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