THE INAUGURAL OVER 60s CRICKET WORLD CUP – DONE AND DUSTED

After three years of the Pandemic, 12 countries were invited to attend the Over 60’s CWC to be held on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland from the 2^nd – 15^th September 2022. England were unable to attend due to their own domestic competition and they were replaced by a Rest of the World team put together by Colin Walters.

The visiting teams started to arrive on the Sunshine Coast on the 26^{th of} August with all teams arriving by the 31^{st of} August. Several practice games were arranged between the visiting teams and some local sides to get rid of the jet lag and brush off the cobwebs.

Rest of the World and Wales had a friendly game under clear blue skies at Maroochydore Cricket Club.

On the 1^{st of} September most teams had practice sessions in the turf nets at Maroochydore CC, followed by Umpires, Captains and Managers meetings in the afternoon at the Alexandra Headlands Surf Life Saving Club to clarify the Playing Conditions and discuss the competition.

Everyone congregated at the Club on the 2^{nd of} September for the official opening ceremony, team photos and welcome to Country and a surf boat demonstration.

The 3^{rd of} September was to see the commencement of the World Cup, but nature intervened with all games cancelled due to the weather. A hasty meeting of the OC with input from team captains and Managers, the Round 1 games were moved to a rest day on the 10^{th of} September. Round 2 on the 4^{th of} September fared slightly better with only the two games at Yandina being played, the other four games were moved to Monday the 5^{th of} September. With games being on consecutive days, some teams were struggling with niggling injuries and could only just make a team up.

Prior to the commencement of each game, both teams with the umpires lined up while the national anthems for each country were played and sung in vibrant fashion. Rounds three and four were completed with no interruptions and then more rain intervened for Round 5 with three games being abandoned, and the untimely passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second. Wales, after consultation with their Cricket Board elected not to play, which was respected by all.

On the 12^{th of} September, the semi-finals were played with Pakistan causing a boil over by defeating the highly favoured Australian team in one semi-final in the very last over and New Zealand sneaking home over Canada with three wickets in hand.

The grading finals were played on the 13^{th of} September with Australia defeating Canada by 10 wickets, India defeating USA by 56 runs, West Indies defeating Zimbabwe by 42 runs, Sri Lanka defeating South Africa by 3 wickets and Wales defeating Rest of the World by 3 wickets.

The Grand Final was played on the 14^{th of} September with Pakistan proving too good for New Zealand winning by 7 wickets. Congratulations to Fawad and the Pakistan team, they played well over the 10 days and deserved their success.

The closing lunch and presentations were held at Nightquarter the following day with Pakistan being given a standing ovation as they entered the hall.

The inaugural Over 60’s Cricket World Cup was played in good spirit by all teams with many friendships being made, we look forward to India hosting the next World Cup in 2024 in Chennai. I am sure that Ravi and his committee will do a great job.

A big thank you to the members of the Organizing Committee, the Volunteers, umpires, scorers, host Clubs, groundsmen and other staff and helpers. Last of all to the visiting teams and supporters,

THANK YOU – ROD RICE