By Frederick Halley
DEFENDING champions South Africa, England, Australia and Pakistan continued their winning ways when the International Cricket Masters (ICM) Over-40 World Cup, organised by Cricket West Indies Masters (CWIM) entered its second day at venues across Guyana yesterday.
After a close two-wicket win over Canada at the GCC ground, Bourda on Saturday, the South Africans went on a run spree against Wales at the Lusignan Community Centre ground yesterday, amassing a mammoth 408 for six in their allotted 45 overs. Wales, in reply were shut out for 156 in 37.5 overs, going down by the wide margin of 352 runs.
The South Africans onslaught was led by centuries from Brendon Buckley (134), Chrisan Witter (126) and Reinhart Strydom (77). Buckley struck 18 fours and four sixes, Witter belted eight fours and 13 sixes and Strydom four fours and seven sixes as the Wales bowlers struggled under the intense pressure.
Wales never challenged the huge total as Piet Botha (three for 20), Strydom (two for 30), Robert Mutch (two for 34) and Christopher Visser (two for 35) took complete control.
Australia, who won from West Indies at the Guyana National Stadium on Saturday, thrashed Namibia by nine wickets at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.
Chasing 223 for victory, after Namibia were dismissed for 227 in 44.3 overs, the Aussies were 227 for one in a mere 15.3 overs with opener Glen Batticciotto smashing 12 fours and 11 sixes in an unbeaten 129.
Batticciotto shared an unbeaten second wicket sand of 190 with Steve Paulsen who struck 15 fours in 72 not out off 34 balls.
Gerri Snyman (63) and Nicholas Buys (44) were the principal scorers for Namibia while Paulsen crowned a fine all-round performance, snatching four for 35 from 8.3 overs.
England, who won from the USA on Saturday, defeated New Zealand, who were playing their first match of the tournament, by 129 runs at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda.
Led by a fine 90 from Jacob Duffy, who slammed seven fours and three sixes and 57 from Ben Fraser (eight fours and two sixes), England reached a challenging 286 for nine in their allotted 45 overs.
New Zealand, who started out bravely with opener Dewald Strydom leading the way with an attacking 77 off 55 balls with eight fours and four sixes, succumbed to the off-spin of Steven Naylor who claimed five for 20 in seven overs.
Pakistan, who won from the Rest of the Caribbean on Saturday, defeated archrivals India at the Guyana National Stadium in a low-scoring affair.
Set 144 for victory, after dismissing their opponents for 143 in 34.3 overs, Pakistan were in a spot of bother at 19 for three in the sixth over but Sheharyar Ghani with an unbeaten 63 (five fours and two sixes) and Adam Akmal, also with 63 not out (eight fours) ensured no further alarms as Pakistan canter to victory in 26.2 overs.
Two matches are slated for today – Colombia versus Namibia at Lusignan Community Centre and Rest of the World against Scotland at Everest.
