A tough day for England Men’s Deaf team saw India take the IT20 series title with one game still to come in the Deaf Cricket Summer Series.
An all round dominant display from India means the 7 match series is now 4-2 to the visitors, despite a magnificent 67 run innings from England opening batter Josh Price in the second match of the day.
India Men’s Deaf 138-2 beat England Men’s Deaf 134-9 by 8 wickets.
India Men’s Deaf 194-5 beat England Men’s Deaf 139-9 by 55 runs.
All to play for heading into the first of two IT20 fixtures at Astwood Bank CC, series scores sitting 2-2, India won the toss and elected to bowl first.
An explosive start from England’s openers Josh Price (15 from 12) and Umesh Valjee (16 from 20) saw four 4s in the first two overs setting a strong tone for the home side. Short lived for Price as a thick edge to India’s wicketkeeper Sharma in the third over brought team mate Henry Wainman to the crease.
Experienced Valjee held firm as Wainman (13 from 12) departed before too falling victim to India’s strong bowling attack. An impressive performance from Welshman, James Schofield (38 from 31) raised England’s hopes, along with a true captain’s innings from George Greenway who finished 16 not out while the rest of his side added 29 between them.
England left the field 134 for 9 after their full 20 overs.
The second innings fell short for England’s bowling unit as India’s opener Akash Singh posted a match winning 61 from 38. It was James Dixon (1 for 21) to finally break through but with 10 overs still to come, it was all to easy for the visitors to reach the target in 14.4 overs, 2 wickets down.
With nothing to lose and everything to prove, it started well for England in the second fixture, winning the toss and putting India into bat.
India reached 50 with a glorious six from A Singh (57 from 30) in the 5th over, as he and his opening partner S Akash (52 from 26) also reached his personal milestone in the first half of the innings.
It wasn’t until Jake Oakes (2 for 28) was brought into the attack that England took their first wicket, India then 95 for 1. It seemed one wasn’t enough for Oakes as he went on to claim the second opener’s wicket a few overs later.
James Dixon came into form in his second spell taking two wickets for himself but despite the host’s best efforts, India climbed to 194 for 5.
Cameron Sweeney sustained an injury on field which left England down to 10-players as they opened up their innings. Valjee and Price looked to settle quickly with a big chase ahead and three overs in the duo had amassed 26. It wasn’t until a terrific piece of fielding from D Kumar ran Valjee out bringing captain Greenway to the middle.
Price, true to form, continued with his attacking style, this time scoring a triumphant 67 from 44 balls before being bowled by K Singh in the 15th over.
Not quite enough to keep his team in the running as the middle order collapsed around him leaving the side bowled out for 139.
FIXTURES AND RESULTS
Tuesday June 18: 1st IT20, The County Ground, Derby. England Men’s Deaf 95 beat India Men's Deaf 23-2 by two runs (DLS).
Thursday June 20: 2nd IT20, Kidderminster CC. India Men’s Deaf 155-6 beat England Men's Deaf 132-3 by 23 runs.
Thursday June 20: 3rd IT20, Kidderminster CC. India Men’s Deaf 132-3 beat England Men's Deaf 126 by seven wickets.
Sunday June 23: 4th IT20. Northampton. England Men’s Deaf 152-4 beat India Men's Deaf 151-5 by six wickets.
Tuesday June 25: 5th IT20. Astwood Bank CC. India Men’s Deaf 138-2 beat England Men’s Deaf 134-9 by 8 wickets.
Tuesday June 25: 6th IT20 Astwood Bank CC. India Men’s Deaf 194-5 beat England Men’s Deaf 139-9 by 55 runs.
Thursday June 27: England Men’s Deaf v India Men's Deaf (7th IT20), The County Ground, Leicester 11.30am