England will face the USA and South Africa play New Zealand after the group stages of the 2023 Over-50 World Cup were concluded on Wednesday.
New Zealand finished top of Group A after a convincing victory against Canada at Wynberg Cricket Club. The Kiwis racked up 289/9 in their 45 overs, with Colin Owens top scoring with 89 off 74 deliveries and opener Mason Robinson getting 78 off 80. They then dismissed the Canadians for just 87, with Simon Dodds and Dean Askew both getting three wickets.
World Cup rookies the USA have booked a semifinal clash with England after a comfortable 10-wicket win against Sri Lanka in their winner-takes-all match at the Vineyard Oval. The victor was set for a Last 4 spot should Zimbabwe slip up, and Ajith Jayasinghe (41) and Fazal Alam’s (63) unbroken first-wicket partnership ensured just that.
Zimbabwe went from top of Group A to third, missing out on a semifinal spot after an 8-wicket defeat to Australia at Rondebosch Sports Club. Murray Goodwin hit another 58 as the Africans reached 220/8, but a first-wicket partnership of 147 put paid to any hopes they had, with Steve Mace hitting an unbeaten 102 to guide the Aussies home.
At Claremont Cricket Club, Brandon Nash and Craig Lyons put on 170 for the second wicket as South Africa beat UAE by 93 runs. Lyons was unbeaten on 110 while Nash fell two runs short of his ton. UAE were 38/6 at one stage, but Asad Rizvi and Rehan Khan put on 125 for the seventh-wicket to lend some respectability to the scoreline. Alan Dawson (3/27) and James Albanie (3/10) were the star bowlers.
England finished top of Group B after a five-wicket win against Wales at Cape Town Cricket Club. The English were on the verge of crashing out but beat South Africa with 11 balls to spare, and will now face USA in the semifinal. They dismissed Wales for 161, with Martyn Gidley taking 3/25, before cruising to the target with nine overs to spare.
Pakistan did what was required of them, beating Namibia comfortably by 10 wickets at Green Point Cricket Club. The African side were once again dismissed cheaply, bowled out for 67 with Fawad Ateeq Barry (3-2-3-3) and Naeem Tayyab (3.4-1-5-3) doing the damage. Pakistan cruised to the target, but it was not enough to see them overtake England or South Africa for a semifinal.
About Evergreen Lifestyle
The 2023 Over-50s Cricket World Cup will once again be sponsored by Evergreen Lifestyle, South Africa’s premium retirement brand with seven operating villages in the Western Cape and Gauteng, and a further six in the pipeline. The business began with a vision to change the retirement landscape in South Africa, offering a partnership for life based on five key pillars: physical security, financial peace of mind, continuous care, a sense of community and exceptional hospitality.
You’ll find Evergreen’s award-winning retirement villages in the most beautiful parts of the country, at the end of sun dappled country lanes, perched on majestic mountain slopes, and within walking distance of our beaches, rivers, and wetlands. And you’ll find vibrant fun-loving communities enjoying the finer things in life – like good food, great company, lasting friendships, and a sense of belonging that is enabled by the resort-style facilities and amenities on offer.