Hawke's Bay police win despite losing sight of the ball during blind cricket game

A police team playing a game of blind cricket against a team from the Hawke's Bay Blind Sports Club. Photo /Ten One Magazine

A team of Hawke's Bay police officers lost sight of the ball during a recent blind cricket game.

A police team played a T20 game against a team from Hawke's Bay Blind Sports Club on April 8 at St John's College in Hastings.

They played a version of the game adapted for participants with impaired vision and the police team use ''sim specs'' which simulated the visual impairment of one of their opponents.

The game was a nail-biter, with the police team, of varying abilities, chasing down a 94-run target with just two balls to go.

The police team narrowly won getting 96/7 against the blind cricket team who posted 94/6.

Detective Steve Leonard organised the game after a suggestion from his wife Erin, who works for the Blind Foundation.

"It was awesome, an absolutely cracking day," he said.

"Everyone involved wants to do it again."

The sim specs gave the impression of looking through frosted glass, Leonard said.

"Not being able to see changes everything.

"You might be able to see the ball, then it moves and you can't see where it's gone."

A rematch is on the cards – and the blind team is keen to face other police opposition when the new season starts in September.

Blind cricket is open to men and women and is played throughout New Zealand and internationally.

It uses metal stumps and a plastic ball containing a bell to provide audible signals.

Batters are limited to 20 runs "and all bowling is Aussie-style, underarm," Leonard said.

While some of the more serious cricketers in the team carried them through, Leonard's innings lasted two balls.

"I got one hit and didn't run because I couldn't hear where the ball went. On the second ball I was bowled out."

The triumphant bowler was Mike Marsh, blind club president, and a former member of New Zealand's Blindcaps international team.

"We had a great day, we were rapt that these guys were prepared to put on those simulator glasses and give it a go."

The team used to play in the national blind cricket tournament but has decided on a more social approach.

Now they are keen for opposition, police and otherwise.

"I think Gisborne police are quite keen to have a crack at us," Marsh said.

"There are some teachers interested and some farmers from southern Hawke's Bay."

A trip to the South Island is also planned.

- Contributed by Ten One Magazine