Australia crowned champions

England watched Australia beat South Africa in the final

Australia were crowned winners of the first triangular tournament for players with learning disabilities after a 67-run victory against South Africa which was watched by the England team.

Having toured around the Western Cape for the previous 12 days, playing in some of the best facilities the area can provide, the final of the competition took place at the picturesque ground of Boland Park in Paarl.

The England team and management took part in the opening ceremony where all squads were addressed prior to the playing of the national anthems by Gerald Lackay, President of the SASAII (South African Sports Association Intellectually Impaired).

He talked about the planting of a seed several years ago in getting players with this form of disability involved in a full international competition and that it was steadily growing and from every game the plant was getting stronger and stronger.

Winston Stubbs, National Cricket Convener and Team Manager for the South African squad, congratulated all the squads on their fine performances over the tournament and insisted that cricket was the winner in that the tournament had provide a learning curve for all teams.

When the final began, South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl first but a knock of 86 by Australia captain Breed helped his side post a challenging total of 223 for nine from 45 overs.

In reply, South Africa made a flying start and were 110 for three after 15 overs but they were pegged back with a series of wickets including the prize dismissal of the South African player of the series Keenan Dorsamy, who was bowled by Wallace for 76.

The task finally proved too much for South Africa as they were all out for 156.

England lost all four matches on the tour and coach Ian Powell was impressed by the standard of the opposition.

After watching the final he said: “It is very hard when sat watching this level of cricket and the range of shots being played by both teams, along with the standard of bowling, to remember that all the players on view have a disability of learning.

“The standard has been far higher than anything the England management had envisaged and if we are to compete at this level then some major changes to the existing structure need to be undertaken.

“In simple terms what we have in South Africa and Australian cricket are cricketers with a learning disability, rather than players with a learning disability playing cricket.

“If England are to host the next tournament in 2007 then the structure of the game in how it is played in the BACD County Championship needs to move to hard ball involvement, otherwise we will never attract the level of cricketer that can compete against both of the current sides but also other nations that are keen to be included.”