England Deaf keep series alive

24 July 2008

England Deaf made history by beating Australia for the first time on English soil in the third one-day international at Campbell Park.

The hosts romped home by seven wickets on the back of a sensational bowling display spearheaded by Darrell Sykes to reduce the deficit in the four-match series to 2-1 with one game remaining.

Seamer Sykes returned figures of 10-4-15-3 to help bowl Australia out for a paltry 117 in 45 overs, while Nigel Davenport was equally econominical in taking 2-15 and Nigel Davenport chipped in with 2-26.

A target of 118 barely inconvenienced England, who cruised to victory with almost 15 overs to spare thanks to captain Umesh Valjee’s 43 and 27 not out from Ben Young.

Young shared an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 43 with Davenport (19 not out), as England overcame the early loss of opener Chris Hughes to the first ball he faced.

It represented only England’s second victory over Australia in the history of deaf cricket, and they go into the final match - at the same venue in Milton Keynes tomorrow - with a chance of drawing the series.

Scorecard - England Deaf v Australia Deaf, 3rd ODI, July 24 2008 (39 KB)