Blind Cricket South Africa (BCSA) is well in with their preparations to the third T20 Cricket World Cup for the Blind which will be hosted in India, in December 2022.
BCSA has recently concluded the annual national T20 tournament in Durban where a working World Cup squad was selected.
Defending champions, Lions Cricket, were named the joint winners with Titans Cricket after a rain disrupted final. The bitter rivals have dominated the tournament in recent years, with the 2022 final being a repeat of last season’s encounter.
BCSA President, Isaac Bidla, congratulated the two teams, the individual winners, and sent best wishes to the selected players.
“Congratulations to the joint winners, Lions and Titans Cricket on their achievements during the tournament.
“Cricket in the country is growing as we have full representation from all avenues. This marked the first year where all nine provinces participated in the tournament.
“Congratulations also go out to the individual winners and selected squad members. All the best with your preparation for the upcoming World Cup,” Bidla concluded.
ABOUT BLIND CRICKET:
Blind cricket is a version of the sport adapted for the blind and partially sighted players. The rules of blind cricket are based on the standard laws of cricket with slight modifications.
Eleven players make up a team:
– a minimum of four players are totally blind (they are classified as B1)
– three partially blind players (classified as B2), and
– a maximum of four partially sighted players (classified as B3).
**The B1 Batter must have a runner.
A B1 classified cricketer should bat in one of the first three batting positions. There should be at least two B1 batters, and a minimum of three in the first nine. A bowler in this class may bowl to any batter but may only face a bowler in the same class. Bowling must always be underarm.
All games are played on the normal cricket field. The difference is that the middle of the pitch must be clearly marked with a line across. When the bowler is bowling, the ball must at least bump before and after the line so that the batsman could be able to hear the ball.
The ball; is larger than a standard cricket ball and contains loud ball-bearing rattles for audible tracking.
A catch; a “one bounce” catch by a B1 player will result in the batsman being given out but for B2 and B3 players, its normal catch.
Dismissals; the batsman can be given out if he is bowled, caught, lbw, stumped, run out, hit wicket, handling the ball, double hitting, obstructing the field or timed out.
BCSA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT PRIZE WINNERS:
PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT:
Buhle Bhidla
B-1 STATS
Best Batter
1. Kwanele Mabela (Titans Cricket)
2. Johan Schoeder (Lions Cricket)
Best Bowler
1. Doctor Malinga (Lions Cricket)
2. Johan Schoeder (Lions Cricket)
B-2
Best Batter
1. Buhle Bidla (Lions Cricket)
2. Isaac Bidla (Lions Cricket)
Best Bowlers
1. Buhle Bidla (Lions Cricket)
2. Reme Kampher (Boland)
B-3
Best Batter
1. Ephraim Mathapo (Titans Cricket)
2. David Landry (Free State)
Best Bowler
1. Max Geerthsen (Titans Cricket)
BCSA NATIONAL TEAM
B1
Johan Schroeder (Lions Cricket), Sphelele Khalala- (KwaZulu-Natal), Doctor Malinga (Lions Cricket), Johannes Heyns (Western Province), Mathula Dlamini (KwaZulu-Natal), Cyril Mdhlalose (Lions Cricket), Victor Ntsinde (Lions Cricket), Ivaan Levendaal (Boland).
B2
Buhle Bhidla (Lions Cricket), Isaac Bidla (Lions Cricket), Anathi Xelelo (KwaZulu-Natal), Reme Kampher (Boland), Fredrik Boer (Boland), Thomas Maduna (KwaZulu-Natal).
B3
Darren Ehlers (Western Province), Siyavuya Mahlikihla (Lions Cricket), Lwande Bhidla (Lions Cricket), David Landry (Free State), Teboho Moloisane (KwaZulu-Natal), Max Geerthsen (Titans Cricket), Simphiwe Khoza (Titans Cricket), Jevon Marks (Boland), Sabelo Dhlomo (KwaZulu-Natal).
