India beats England for Physical Disability World Cricket title

The Indian team won the match by 36 runs, with Kunal Phanase winning the man-of-the-match award for his all-round performance.

Inspired by an all-round show from Kunal Phanase, India stunned home team England by 36 runs in the final of the T20 Physical Disability World Cricket Series, organised by England and Wales Cricket Board and played at Blackfinch New Road ground. The visitor scored 180-7 in 20 overs after skipper Vikrant Keni won the toss and then restricted England to 144-8 in 20 overs, to seal the title.

Phanase stroked 36 runs off 35 balls (3x4) as opener and later played a big role in England's chase, taking two for 15 runs three overs.  The hard-hitting Ravindra Sante (53 off 34 balls, 2x4, 4x6) and Keni with a quickfire 29 off 27 balls and Suganesh Mahindran with a 11-ball 33 (1x4, 4x6) were the other big contributors to India's total.

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Later named the man of the match, Phanase got support from Sunny Goyat (4-0-23-2). India had earlier topped the six-team round-robin league stage to qualify directly for the final and right through looked the team to beat. The squad was sent by the All India Cricket Association for Physically Challenged (AICAPC), which organised selection and preparation for the England event.

India named itself the Wadekar Warriors, in memory of the late Ajit Wadekar, former India captain and team manager, who played an active role in AICAPC.

Brief scores: India 180 for seven in 20 overs (Kunal Phanase 36, Vikrant Keni 29, Ravindra Sante 53, Suganesh Mahendran 33; L O’Brien 2-35) bt England 144 for eight in 20 overs (A Brown 44, C Flynn 28; Kunal Phanase 2-15, Sunny Goyat 2-23, Narendra Mangore 1-23, Anish Rajan 1-29) by 36 runs Man of the match: Kunal Phanase