IMC Over-40 World Cup
By Frederick Halley
SEMI-FINAL action in the International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-40 World Cup is set for today at the Guyana National Stadium with Pakistan opposing England. The other semi-final between South Africa and Australia will be played tomorrow.
Five other matches for minor places are also carded: West Indies and Rest Of the Caribbean at Bourda, Canada and Namibia at Everest, India and Scotland at Police Sports Club, New Zealand and USA at Enmore and Rest of the World and Wales at Malteenoes.
Playing like true defending champions, South Africa registered a comprehensive win over Namibia at the Everest Cricket Club ground, Camp Road, Georgetown.
The Namibians had no answer to man-of-the-match Ryan Reeves, who in a devastating five-over spell, captured an incredible six for 13 to send Namibia packing for 111 in 25.3 overs, replying to South Africa’s 363 for eight, thereby losing by the wide margin of 252 runs.
Apart from Nicolaas Buys, who struck 57 with six fours and a six and Henry Hayes, 36, with four fours and two sixes, the remainder of Namibian batters found the going tough as Reindhart Strydom supported Reeves with two for 37.
Earlier, South Africa were led to their formidable score through half centuries from Nathan Ritter (77), opener William Hantam 72 and Christian Ritter 58.
Hantam, who shared an opening stand of 75 with Brendon Buckley (44), struck five fours and four sixes while Jones’ 77 was spiced with seven fours and three sixes. Ritter clobbered two fours and six sixes.
Needing to win to ensure a semi-final spot, Australia defeated Wales by five wickets at the Guyana National Stadium.
Set 219 for victory, after dismissing Wales for 218 in their 45 overs, Australia comfortable achieved the feat in 35.2 overs. The victory was engineered by opener Matthew Weaver who spanked 71 with five fours and a six and Steve Paulsen who stroked an unbeaten 70 which included eight fours. Greg Hunt also supported with 44 (six fours).
Earlier, Wales had useful contributions from James Breese who hit four fours in a top score of 56, Robert Framklyn, 51 with five fours and a six and opener Atif Qureshi who scored 43 which included eight fours.
Bowling for Australia, Steven Spoljaric took three for 33 while there were two wickets each for Richie Wyld, Brenton Edawards, and Paulsen.
West Indies went on a run spree against the hapless Colombians at the Albion Sports Complex in Berbice, reaching a massive 452 for four in their allotted 45 overs before bowling out their opponents for 75 in 22.4 overs. The huge victory was however not good enough to earn them a semi-final spot as they finished the preliminary rounds with eight points. All four of the semi-finalists ended on 10 points.
Former Guyana and West Indies opener Sewnarine Chattergoon was again among the runs with a brilliant 158 before retiring hurt, an innings that was decorated 14 fours and three sixes off 101 balls.
Chattergoon added 272 for the opening stand with Randy Thomas who stroked 92 which included eight fours and a six. Jason Mohamed weighed in with another fine knock of 81, smashing nine fours and a six off a mere 39 balls while Imran Khan also hit a quick-fire 50 off 19 balls with three fours and four sixes, further pulverizing the Colombian attack.
Abhas Srivastava (41) was the lone Colombian batter to reach double figures as Devendra Bishoo grabbed three for 17, Trevor Benn, who made the early inroads, two for two and Khan two for 22.
