GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Oct 30, CMC – Australia booked their spot in the final of the International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-40s World Cup with a comfortable four-wicket win over South Africa in the second semifinal here on Thursday.
Chasing South Africa’s total of 234 for nine in 45 overs, Australia romped to 235 for six in 43.5 overs at the Georgetown Cricket Club to set up a meeting with Pakistan in Saturday’s final.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, South Africa were led by half centuries from skipper William Hantam, who made 71 at the top of the order and Brandon Reddy who made an even 50.
Hantam faced 79 balls and struck five fours and three sixes, while Reddy needed just 27 balls and hit five sixes and three fours in his boundary studded knock.
However, South Africa were pegged back by a five-wicket haul from Steve Paulsen, who snared 5-50 from his nine overs.
Paulsen then returned to topscore with 64 off 74 balls, while Australia also got useful knocks from Ryan Broad who made 48 and Steven Spoljaric, who hit an unbeaten 36 off 38 balls to steer his side over the line.
Reinhardt Strydom was South Africa’s best bowler with 3-50.
Meanwhile, Pakistan qualified for the final with a tense two-wicket victory over England on Wednesday.
Pakistan’s well-balanced bowling attack restricted their opponents to 205 for nine in 45 overs after they chose to bat first at the Guyana National Stadium.
Ryan Canning scored an unbeaten 53 off 61 balls for England to get them up to their eventual total after they had collapsed to 104 for five.
There were two wickets apiece for Waseem Ali (2-22), Mian Muhammad Irfan (2-30), Tariq Mahmood (2-36) and Muhammad Khalil (2-43).
Led by a knock of 51 off 46 balls from Fahad Jabbar and 48 from Sheharyar Ghani, Pakistan then reached 206 for eight in 41 overs.
CMC rb/26