Hubali (Karnataka), Dec 26 (NationPress) Maharashtra triumphed over Rajasthan while Karnataka decisively outperformed Kerala in pivotal league matches of the 8th edition of the Nagesh Trophy -- Men's National T20 Cricket Tournament for Blind 2025 held at the Railway Sports Ground in Hubali on Friday.

Both matches showcased remarkable skill, collaboration, and sportsmanship, highlighting the rising talent and competitive spirit within Indian blind cricket.

In a thrilling league match, Maharashtra overcame Rajasthan by three wickets. Rajasthan, batting first, scored 158/8 in 20 overs, with Vishanu Bhiya (44) and Rohitas Pareek (25) making significant contributions.

In reply, Maharashtra successfully chased the target in 19.5 overs, led by a stellar performance from B3 Anil Belsare, who scored 76 runs and earned the title of Player of the Match. Parmeshwar added 29 runs, while the bowling efforts of Swapnil Dilip Wagh and Amol Karche kept the match engaging.

In the day's second match, Karnataka crushed Kerala by 174 runs.

In a dominant display, Karnataka amassed a staggering 320/2 in 20 overs, with Sunil Ramesh (186 off 78 balls) and Bhaskar B2 (59 off 34 balls) spearheading the attack.

Gudadappa chipped in with 38 runs, creating a formidable target. Kerala could only muster 146/7 in 20 overs, despite contributions from Ahad B3 (49)* and Arjun P (31). Karnataka's disciplined bowling, led by Lokesha B2 (1/5) and B1-Basappa Waddagolu (1/8.5), dismantled the chase. Sunil Ramesh was awarded Player of the Match for his exceptional innings.

The Nagesh Trophy stands as India’s premier national-level T20 cricket tournament for visually impaired men's teams, uniting state and union territory teams from across the country to compete in a structured T20 format under the auspices of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), supported by organizations like the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled.

The eighth edition of this tournament featured 29 teams, divided into six groups, culminating in a total of 56 league matches. The winners of Groups A, B, C, and D qualified directly for the Super 8 stage, while the next two spots were determined by Net Run Rate. The winners from Groups E and F will face the 7th and 8th-placed teams from Groups A to D in eliminators, with the victors advancing to the Super 8 stage.

The Nagesh Trophy is named in tribute to the late S. P. Nagesh, the founding president of CABI and an advocate for the development of blind cricket in India. The inaugural tournament took place in 2018–19 and has been held annually, witnessing growing participation and competitiveness. Teams from various states and union territories engage each year in round-robin league matches, followed by knockout rounds and finals. Andhra Pradesh are the defending champions, having secured the title by defeating Delhi in last year's final.