SA lose Over-50 World Cup final to England despite Alan Dawson heroics

Alan DawsonAlan Dawson. ©Matchpixsa

South Africa lost the rain-affected 2023 Over-50 World Cup final to England by 65 runs at Newlands in Cape Town on Monday, 20 March.

England posted a total of 267 for eight in 40 overs. The innings was reduced by five overs after a delayed start due to wet weather.

Giles Ecclestone hit 120 in 103 deliveries, which included 11 fours and three sixes, for England. Alan Dawson took two wickets for South Africa.

Giles Ecclestone

Giles Ecclestone. ©Matchpixsa

South Africa’s reply reached 202 for eight in 40 overs. The match ended shortly after 7pm local time. The floodlights were not switched on in the dying light.

Dawson hit 92 from 77 balls, including four fours and three sixes, for South Africa. Martyn Gidley and Richard Cooper took three wickets each for England.

“We were spurred on to make it to the finals because it would have been the first time that a South African team would have won a World Cup,” said South Africa Over-50 captain Louis Koen.

“It was obviously disappointing for us to reach the finals, and then be outplayed by such a strong English side. But it was still great for the players to have achieved as much as we did throughout the tournament.”

England beat South Africa – again

This was South Africa’s second defeat to England in this year’s Over-50 World Cup. Their first was by three wickets at Groot Drakenstein Games Club last week.

This is England’s maiden Over-50 World Cup title. Australia were the previous champions. They won the tournament in 2018. The 2020 tournament was curtailed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

England Over-50

England Over-50. ©Matchpixsa

Dawson and Nash top for South Africa overall

Dawson was South Africa’s leading wicket-taker at the 2023 Over-50 World Cup. The former Proteas seamer took 13 wickets in seven innings.

Brandon Nash was South Africa’s leading run-scorer. He collected 298 runs in six innings.

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New Zealand finished third

South Africa and England beat New Zealand and United States of America, respectively, in the semi-finals. New Zealand beat USA in the third-place play-off.

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