VI Sussex Sharks crowned National Division 1 champions

The VI (visually impaired) Sussex Sharks lifted the Blind Cricket England and Wales National Division 1 title for only the third time in their 19-year history last week.

In 2019 the Sharks were relegated from the top division after struggling to fulfil their league fixtures and ambitions to be back in the top-flight had to be put on hold as the 2020 season was completely lost due to the pandemic.

The Sharks comfortably bounced back and won Division 2 in 2021 without losing a single game.

This year was a very close season, at the mid-point every team was mathematically capable of being champions or getting relegated.

A win against league leaders London Metro was followed by two more wins and the stage was set for a final weekend showdown against 2nd placed Somerset, a fixture that had to be re-arranged after rail strikes earlier in the season had caused a postponement.

It was the Sharks’ to lose as only a massive Somerset win could see the standings reversed, with Sussex having won the home fixture by a massive 215 runs in April.

Sadly, the rail strikes hit again, and the two sides had to shake hands virtually on the draw, meaning the season was brought to a close and the Sharks were crowned champions.

The Sharks have completed the first leg of a potential historic treble that has only ever been previously achieved once in the game’s 46-year history.

The team travel to Wantage Road, Northampton for the 30-over Heinrich Swanepoel Memorial Cup on Saturday 3rd September where they will face London Metro, a side that will be keen to reverse their defeats they suffered when they previously met in the 2018 final, as well as in the 2019 T20 final.

The Sharks then have a week off before T20 Finals Day in Wolverhampton, where they will line up against Somerset, Northamptonshire and Lancashire to try and complete the treble.

Congratulations to all involved! #GOSBTS