Over-70s

Tournament Final Report – England become the first ever Over 70s World Champions

On a wonderful day at the most striking of cricket grounds, England and Australia played out a sometimes tense, always exhilarating, final match to decide who would become the inaugural Over 70s World Champions.

Australia Bat First

Winning the toss Australia skipper Kevin Lannigan chose to bat on what looked like a decent batting surface. Runs on the board was his rational and at times that looked like it would become a significant reality. When Phil Drescher was taking 65 from 59 balls before succumbing to a bit of guile from Nick Andrews, Australia seemed to be heading for a total of 250 or more.

An early run out by the electric Mike Stafford of Graeme Wilson followed by Godfrey Lamb picking up a snick behind from Leigh Hardham off John Turton had brought Drescher to the wicket and as his fashion he played himself in, not for long, then set about reaching the boundary. At his demise Kevin Lanigan (31 off 52) and Murray Harrison (42 off 56), who has been on a run of form recently, kept the score moving forward but tight bowling and fielding were taking their toll on the run rate.

A flurry of wickets, a bright knock from Asoke Wijeratne (33 from 40) and Australian’s innings closed at 208/8, below par maybe, but on the board for sure.

Marcus Young was the pick of the England bowlers on the day with 3 for 47 but the all-round bowling and fielding effort was of a quality expected in a World Cup final with a stand out performance by Lamb behind the stumps as he claimed his part in six wickets with four stumpings and two catches.

England Respond

The early loss of Chris Evans, to what looked like a good ball from Rex Bennett sent the England skipper, John Evans, to the crease a little earlier than he would have anticipated. Once there though he, together with the in form Duncan Elder, set about laying the foundations a winning total.

Restricted by a knee injury Bennett bowled his nine overs 1/ 27 and was together with George Preston 2/51 off 8.2, one of just two Australian bowlers to claim a wicket.

The heat of the day slowed England progress and Evans and Elder mixed straight batted defence with wonderful midwicket boundaries, from Elder, and straight drives from the skipper. Both succumbed to Preston though, Elder caught for 74 from 102 and Evans, bowled, 78 off 116.

New legs were needed now with a run rate at around seven an over, tight bowling and even tighter fielding, and those were provided wonderfully by Derek Towe (20 not out from 14) and Simon Sargent (14 not out from 13) who dropped it and ran, brought the field in then hit over the top to deliver this first ever 70s World Cup to the England 70s team.