England Men's Deaf 95 all out beat India Men's Deaf 23-2 by 2 runs (DLS)
England Men's Deaf team came out on the right side of a rain-affected Duckworth Lewis Stern result in their first IT20 against India at Derby.
Playing in the first game of bilateral England Disability cricket since 2019, owing to COVID-19, George Greenway's side would have been disappointed to be bowled out for 95.
But two early wickets in India's reply for Matthew Bailey nudged the hosts ahead on DLS as the rain came and when it didn't relent the outcome went the way of the hosts.
Earlier, ahead of the toss, Cameron Sweeney became the 66th man selected by the England Men's Deaf Team, and was presented with his cap by Assistant Coach Paul Allen.
The two sides meet again in two IT20s on Thursday, at Kidderminster CC.
England Men's Deaf captain George Greenway said: “It’s great to get over the line, even if we did need a bit of luck.
"It wasn’t the best total but the early wickets we took just put us ahead when the rain came and luckily the win went our way. Plenty to work on ahead of Thursday but great to be back out there.”
FIXTURES AND RESULTS
Tuesday June 18: 1st IT20, The County Ground, Derby. England Men’s Deaf beat India Men's Deaf by two runs (DLS).
Thursday June 20: England Men’s Deaf v India Men's Deaf (2nd IT20), Kidderminster Cricket Club 10.30am
Thursday June 20: England Men’s Deaf v India Men's Deaf (3rd IT20), Kidderminster Cricket Club 2.30pm
Sunday June 23: England Men’s Deaf v India Men's Deaf (4th IT20), The County Ground, Northants 3pm
Tuesday June 25: England Men’s Deaf v India Men's Deaf (5th IT20), Astwood Bank Cricket Club 10.30am
Tuesday June 25: England Men’s Deaf v India Men's Deaf (6th IT20), Astwood Bank Cricket Club 2.30pm
Thursday June 27: England Men’s Deaf v India Men's Deaf (7th IT20), The County Ground, Leicester 11.30am