India beat Sri Lanka in deaf cricket match

LAHORE: Fine batting by Indrajeet Yadav and later good bowling by Vipul Patel (3-25) helped India beat Sri Lanka by 18 runs in the first match of the first T20 Asia Deaf Cricket Cup match at the LCCA ground here on Tuesday.

Indian captain Imran Sheikh won the toss and opted to bat first. They scored 128 runs for six with Yadav dominating with 68 runs.

Other key contributors for India were Parath Gujjar (20) and Kaldeep Singh (22).

For Sri Lanka, Sanka Manjola claimed two wickets for 23 while Laksan Fernando, Somo Dolanka and Nalan Samera took one wicket each.

In reply, Sri Lanka could only score 110 for loss of eight wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

Hemajith Wajera was the top scorer with 19 runs.

Vipul Patel earned three wickets for 23 while G.B. Singh took two.

Pakistan will play Sri Lanka on Wednesday at the LCCA ground.

Meanwhile, Indian skipper Imran, while talking with Dawn, said he was hopeful of winning the title after victory against Sri Lanka.

“We played well in all departments of the game and it is good start, raising our hopes for the title,” Imran said with the help of interpreter, his coach Natindar Singh, a Ranjhi Trophy player.

“We are also enjoying our stay in Lahore and happy over the hospitality extended to us by the Pakistan Deaf Cricket Association and the Pakistan Cricket Board,” he added.

Meanwhile, coach Natindar said other cricket boards of the world should learn from PCB’s positive gesture towards deaf cricket.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play