Flashback - 2018 Over 50s Cricket World Cup Final - Australia vs Pakistan
Veterans Cricket Australia | July 20, 2024
Australian v Pakistan Over 50s Cricket World cup Final
Wednesday 5 December 2018
Drummoyne Oval
Lead image - Tim Sargent bowling for Australian Over 50s cricket team
As hoped, this was a classic final between the world's best over-50s cricketing nations. Both sides had cruised through the round robin stages unbeaten and their scheduled Round 5 clash had been cancelled due to bad weather, so there was no history between them. Australia had relied heavily on their top 6 - particularly their top 3, including captain Peter Solway, who was averaging over 100 before today - and a fit pace attack. Pakistan also had strength at the top of the order, plus a number of canny spinners.
Pakistan won the toss and asked Australia to bat on a Drummoyne Oval pitch that was much greener than most of the ones seen during the tournament. This decision paid immediate dividends as Dastagir Butt dismissed Gavin Brown and then - crucially - bowled Solway for only 4 runs. Sagheer Abbas then bowled the dangerous Trent Ryan to have Australia tottering at 26/3.
It was up to the cool heads of Joe Santostefano (33) and local first-grade legend Tony Clark (44) to build a partnership. This they did, adding 68 before Santostefano was caught by Sagheer off Imtiaz Tarar. Some steady contributions from Todd O'Keefe (25), Darren Hill (17, including two huge sixes) and Steve Gollan (with a six of his own) gave Australia something to bowl at - 165.
Pakistan started their chase in a hurry: Javed Qureshi hit a six and two fours in his quickfire 17, but was caught by Clark off John Short with the score on 20. Shahid Anwar fell just four runs later. Fresh off his semi-final century against England, Sajjid Ali smashed a boundary but tried to repeat the shot immediately and was caught by Darren Smith. When Ghulam Ali was LBW to Tony Clark, Pakistan were suddenly 38/4, with two of their four century-makers dismissed. The two others, Ghaffar Kazmi and Sagheer Abbas, fell with the score on 66, Sagheer for a golden duck, and Pakistan were in deep trouble on a wicket that was still helping the seamers. Things didn't get much better and at 94/9 it looked like the final would be a lopsided victory for the hosts.
Babar Butt and Imtiaz Tarar had other ideas, however. They took a much more measured approach than the top-order batsmen, and sensibly pushed the ball around; run rate was never going to be an issue. Australia tried spin and pace but couldn't grab the final wicket. As Pakistan inched closer, the strong Pakistani contingent in the crowd became louder and the confident Aussies started to get worried. Babar and Imtiaz looked in full control. Then, with just 3 runs required and the odds well and truly back in Pakistan's favour, John Short thudded one into Babar's pads. The umpire's finger went up and Australia had emerged victorious.
It was a wonderfully tense, low-scoring final that put the icing on a tremendous tournament.
Australia 165 (Clark 44, Santostefano 33, Qureshi 3/25) beat Pakistan 162 (B. Butt 46, Tarar 28*, Short 3/27) by 3 runs.
Match scorecard
Australian Over 50s - 2018 World Cup squad
Back Row - Michael Van Zuyden, Manager Tim Sargent, Billy Blair, Darren Smith, Gavin Brown, Stephen Gollan, Darren Hill, Joe Santostefano, Greg Biggs, Ross Mcllveen (Physiotherapist), Mark Bury (Selector), Trevor Chappell (World Cup ambassador)
Front Row - Bradley Manty, John Short, Todd O’Keefe, Peter. Solway (Captain), Rowan Harry, Craig Gislingam, Trent Ryan, Tony Clark
