Photo Credit: Cricket South Africa
North West Blind Cricket (NWBC) was officially launched this past weekend, the event took place at Ramblers Sport Club on the 13th of August 2022. NWBC is based in Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati (RSM) and are passionate about the sport of cricket, their aim is to ensure that the blind, partially blind, and partially sighted are given a platform to showcase their cricketing talent, and to also give opportunities to individuals in this stream to grow and develop with regards to administration, coaching, umpiring, and scoring.
Amongst the speakers at the launch were Mr. P. van Neel (Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality), Mr. Gopolang Valtyn (Dept. of arts, culture, sports, and recreation – RSM), Mr. Thapedi Ntlhaile (Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati sports confederation – Disability representative), Ms Kedinetse Modise (Christiana School for the Blind and Partially Sighted), Mr. Thato Leeuw (NWC – Dr Ruth Mompati District Chairperson), Mr. Rico Ramokhethi (NWC), Mr. Isaac Bidla (BCSA – President) and Samuel Bareng (NWBC – President).
Also present at the launch were Mr. Kevin Smithers (Ramblers Sport Club), Mr. Moichela (Dept. of Education – RSM), Mr. Dafita Mainaakae (RSM – Spirit of Cricket) Central Gauteng Lions Blind Cricket team (25 members), Christiana School for the Blind and Partially Sighted (22 members) and the NWBC executive members.
The Launched was then followed by a 3-match T20 series between CGL and NWBC, the first match played on Saturday afternoon and the remaining two matches were played on Sunday. All the matches took place at the Gert Lubbe cricket ground which is the home venue of Vryburg Hoërskool. CGL won the series 3 – 0 and claimed the floating trophy.
Results:
| North West Blind Cricket | 51/10 (17ov) | CGL Blind Cricket | 256/6 (20ov) |
| Gauteng Central Blind Cricket won by 205 runs – Saturday, 13 Aug 2022 | |||
| North West Blind Cricket | 46/10(18.3ov) | CGL Blind Cricket | 48/0 (4ov) |
| Gauteng Central Blind Cricket won by 10 wickets – Sunday, 14 Aug 2022 | |||
| CGL Blind Cricket | 221/8 (20ov) | Gauteng Central Blind Cricket | 64/9 (20ov) |
| Gauteng Central Blind Cricket won by 157 runs – Sunday, 14 Aug 2022 |
NWC and NWBC would like to thank every stakeholder that contributed towards the success of the launch, the school that prepared and offered their facilities for matches, umpiring and scoring departments for allocations, both teams, and coaches. A special thank you to Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district Municipality, RSM – Dept. of arts, culture, sports, and recreation, RSM – Dept. of Education, RSM sports confederation, CGL Blind Cricket, BCSA and local media.
About North West Cricket:
North West Cricket is the official custodian of cricket in the north west province and aims to make cricket available to all who want to play this beautiful game. The main objective is the transformation and development of amateur and professional cricket by providing opportunities and other resources in order to promote, organise, control, administer, foster, encourage, and provide facilities for the game of cricket.
