By David Gavrilovic

Sugg had a fine series against the Australians

The England blind cricket team have retained the Ashes after taking a 3-0 series lead against Australia.

Matt Dean's side won a tight first match by 33 runs with Nathan Foy and Luke Sugg both scoring 74.

In the second game Foy struck the first double century in the Ashes as England claimed a crushing 135-run win.

The success was sealed with a seven-wicket win on Tuesday with Sugg hitting a masterful century to guide his side home with four overs to spare.

England went into the five-match series as slight favourites following wins in the last three matches between the sides.

England had enjoyed home success in the first Ashes series in 2004 coming out 3-2 series winners.

The first match of the series was shortened to 38 overs a side and England took the early initiative scoring 315-8 including scores of 74 for totally blind batsman Foy and partially sighted batsman Sugg. Despite a century from batsman Nick Haydar, the Aussies could only reach 282-7 falling 33 runs short.

After a longer than scheduled gap between games due to rain, England again batted first in the second game. The Australians took early wickets and continued to take wickets throughout England's innings but they could not get rid of Foy or slow England's scoring rate.

Foy, eventually run out for 200, was ably supported by partially sighted Andy Powers with 68 as England reached a massive 370-8 from their 40 overs.

Australia were never in the running and fell well short at 235-6, totally blind Roy Turnham taking two of the wickets to fall.

Australia batted first in the third game scoring a modest 264-5 with Sugg taking two wickets in tough batting conditions.

Despite two early wickets England's partially sighted batsmen took control and guided them home with seven wickets and 25 balls to spare.

Sugg completed a magnificent performance with 112 not out alongside scores of 49 and 48 not out respectively for brothers Matt and Gavin Dean.

The victory could be a positive omen for Kevin Pietersen's England Test side.

Prior to the Test side winning the Ashes in 2005, the England women and England blind team both claimed their Ashes, a pattern that has been repeated in 2008.

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