By Frederick Halley
ENGLAND cemented their place in the top four with a comfortable six-wicket victory over the Rest of the Caribbean (ROC) at the Enmore Community Centre ground yesterday, when the International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-40 World Cup entered its penultimate day of the preliminary stages.
The win was engineered by Taqi Abass who produced an incredible bowling spell of seven for 25 in 7.5 overs to send the ROC tumbling for 111 all out in 34.5 overs.
Winning the toss and electing to take first strike, ROC lost wickets at regular intervals with Lary Balgobin (24) and Andrew Lyght Jnr (20) being the principal scorers.
Clearly intent on boosting their net run rate, England, who suffered a lone defeat versus Pakistan, raced to 112 for six in 14.3 overs with Darren Stevens blasting eight fours and a six in an unbeaten 56 off 30 balls. Former Guyana player, Trevon Garraway finished with three for 26 from 4.3 overs, while Jeunick Mingo took two for 38 from four.
New Zealand inflicted a crushing 314-run win over the Rest of the World (ROW) at the Lusignan Community Centre ground. After amassing a formidable 391 for nine in their 45 overs, the Kiwis sent ROW packing for 77 in 19.1 overs with Hasham Khan (20), and number 11 Luis Hermida (11) being the only batters to reach double figures.
Jeraldd Sugumar, three for 13 from 3.1 overs and Paddy Sullivan three for 15 did the damage for New Zealand.
Earlier, New Zealand, who opted to take first strike, got half centuries from openers Dewald Strydom (90) and Daniel Lyons (82), the two adding 186 for the first wicket in 26.1 overs. Strydom struck 11 fours and five sixes while Lyons’ knock included 12 fours and a six.
Further half-centuries were registered by Greg Johnson (57), Darrin Cook (54) and Andrew Goldsmith (50), as the Kiwis pilled on the pressure. Khengar Ahir finished with five for 63 from eight overs.
India’s seven-wicket victory over Scotland at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, was highlighted by a superb spell of fast bowling from Amit Mishra (no relation to the former Indian national player), who sent the last four Scottish batsmen packing off consecutive deliveries, the first three uprooting the stumps and the final one being adjudged LBW. He finished with figures of four for 27 from seven overs.
Set 207 for victory, after Scotland were dismissed for 206 in 43 overs, India cruised to 207 for three in 34.2 overs, led by 73 from Anup Fulper (nine fours and one six) and 57 not out (10 fours) from Bhupender Yadav.
Led by a fine undefeated 135 from Sheharyar Ghani, Pakistan defeated the USA by 172 runs at the Albion Sports Comple ground in Berbice.
Set 316 for victory, after Pakistan had reached a challenging 315 for five in 45 overs, the USA could manage only 143 all out in 30.1 overs.
Ghani smashed 10 fours and seven sixes in his knock and was ably supported by Jawad Mansoor (69) and opener Fahad Jabbar (63).
USA were never up to the challenge, succumbing easily to the varied Pakistan attack as Waseem Ali bagged four for 18 in nine overs.
The league stage ends today with three matches – Australia versus Wales at the Guyana National Stadium, West Indies taking on winless Colombia at the Albion Sports Complex and South Africa confronting Namibia at Everest.
