India outlast England in Physical Disability World Series Final

Ravindra Sante hits a half-century to galvanise the Indians to victory in a closely-fought game at New Road

New Road: India PD 180-7, England PD 144-9 - India PD won by 36 runs

India defeated a spirited England by 36 runs to lift the inaugural Physical Disability World Series trophy at Blackfinch New Road.

India’s 180 for 7, bolstered by some mesmerising hitting at the back end of the innings, ultimately proved too steep for Iain Nairn’s side, who finished on 144 for 9.

England booked their place in the final after beating Afghanistan by 10 runs in a tense morning semi-final and were well placed at 90 for 1 in the 11th over of the final.

But when Angus Brown, just 17 last month and one of the tournament’s standout performers, was caught in the covers for 44 off Sunny Goyat, the pendulum swung India’s way. 

The 13th over proved decisive.

Callum Flynn, such a lynchpin for England with bat, ball and in the field, was dismissed for 28 off the first delivery of Goyat’s over, leaving the hosts 97 for 3.

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Two balls later Liam O’Brien was run out without facing a ball after chancing a single through a misfield to the keeper.

When Liam Thomas and skipper Nairn followed cheaply in the 14th over, England were 105 for 6 with five wickets having fallen in 22 deliveries.

It was the decisive stage of the final after India’s innings had also been a tale of two halves.

England had bowled well to restrict India to 85 for 2 after 13 overs, making a dream start when Ben Tyler had Khan caught behind with the second ball of the innings.

A patient 47-run second-wicket partnership between Kunal Phanase (36) and skipper Vikrant Keni (29) kept India ticking over.

^{Anish Rajan produced a wicket and two run-outs on the way to India's victory}

After Keni was caught and bowled by left-arm spinner Fred Bridges, Ravindra Sante (53 from 35) and Phanase took India to 113 before the latter was run out off the final ball of the 15th over. 

That brought Suganesh Mahendran to the crease and a seismic shift to the proceedings.

Mahendran’s remarkable 11-ball 33 included four sixes, including one monstrous hit into the top of the New Road stand.

India had more than doubled their total, with 95 coming off the last seven overs.

^{Will Flynn struck 21 from 18 balls but it wasn't enough for England}

The result was a target that was always going to require something special against a team that had arrived fresh – and had the advantage of winning the toss, against a side tiring after a stirring 10-wicket victory in the morning over big-hitting Afghanistan.

Liam O’Brien’s 34-ball 53 and 45 from Jamie Goodwin helped England post 147 for 7.

In reply, a tight spell from Fred Bridges, whose four overs yielded just 12 and two wickets, applied the squeeze, with regular wickets leaving them with an unlikely 20 required from the final over, from which just 10 came.

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