Can a team from UK Women’s VI Cricket follow up their annual match against Price & Myers by playing their next T20 match in the Blind Women’s World Cup?
Once again both teams were given generous hospitality at Teddington cricket club on Sunday 3rd August and the UK women ran out winners by 14 runs in a hard fought match. Winning the toss UK Women’s skipper elected to bat first but may have wondered if that was the right choice as Alex Bradshaw bowled opener Susan Hookway and then two sharp run outs had the side reeling at 20 for 3. However a partnership between Alison Heasman and the other opener, Laura Brooks, took the score over 100 and allowed the skipper’s cameo of 16 from 10 balls to set a chaseable 133.
Jess Lowe and Sami Begum bowled four tight overs with Sami picking up a wicket to raise the asking rate. The game swayed towards Price & Myers at the mid-point of their innings thanks to a rapid 30 from Tom Lovrith from just 11 balls with 5 of the day’s seven boundaries. When he retired the scoring rate could not be maintained as the well organised UK Women worked well together to conceed just 37 runs from the last 10 overs.
Organisers of the event Samarthanam and CABI say “The T20 Cricket for the Blind Women’s World Cup is a pioneering initiative that champions inclusivity, empowerment, and sporting excellence. With seven countries participating, this prestigious tournament provides a global platform for visually impaired women cricketers to showcase their talent, determination, and resilience. For the first time ever, India takes pride in hosting this historic World Cup, reinforcing its leadership in blind women’s cricket.” The teams that are hoping to join the hosts are Nepal, Pakistan, Australia, USA, Sri Lanka and the UK.
The cost of taking part in the world cup is around £60,000 and a very generous donor has been found to fund half of this. Can you help raise the other half to ensure the UK are part of this historic event? If so donations can be made at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/paul-toplis-1