Andy Powers smashes a century for England Visually Impaired
31st May 2012Despite Andy Powers’ 118 run stand, England Visually Impaired cricket team were defeated by Australia in the first one-day International of the three match series, at Malvern College yesterday.
The hosts opted to insert Australia and bowled the tourists out for 319 in the 40th over. As England openers Matt Dean and Mo Khatri took to the crease, the game unfolded to be one of tactics as both teams were evenly matched on talent.
Australia saved their compulsory 16 overs, that must be bowled by a B1 sight category player, for the death, allowing players of better sight to skittle through the England top order. The hosts were reduced to 112 for seven as Powers came to the crease.
Hampshire batsman Powers led a valiant run chase by the lower order, but on this occasion the hosts fell 77 runs short as they were bowled out for 243.
Andy Powers said: “We are disappointed with the result, but will be taking positive elements of the game forward with us.
“I was pleased to be able to make an impact on the target and would have liked to have taken us all the way over the line, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be.
“We are not complacent; tactics as well as execution play a huge part in blind cricket. We’ll review our performance and come back fighting to level the series.”
England will play the second match of the Blind Cricket one-day international series at Malvern College on Friday, May 31.