Randall supplies semi-final push

England Veterans 268-8

Australia Veterans 254-5

England win by 14 runs

England's veterans beat their Australian counterparts by 14 runs in Bombay yesterday to set up a Masters Cup semi-final meeting with India today.

England, who will meet India at the same venue, recovered through an unbroken 50-run, ninth-wicket partnership between Neal Radford and John Emburey to reach 268 for 8 in their 45 overs.

Derek Randall, the former Nottinghamshire player, made a fine half-century to hold the middle order together but was bowled for 62 by Graham Yallop. England then experienced a collapse before Radford and Emburey shared a brisk stand in six overs to swing the match.

Chasing an asking rate of 5.75 runs an over, Australia were never in contention, although most of their batsmen made reasonable scores.

The English spinners, Derek Underwood and John Emburey, bowled well and were backed by some scintillating fielding. But the Australians also found stroke-making difficult as the pitch played slow and low.

Australia finished with 254 for 5 in 45 overs and follow the Sri Lankan team out of the tournament.

South Africa, who had a stunning six-wicket victory against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, meet the West Indies in the other semi-final tomorrow. The final is scheduled for Sunday.

ENGLAND VETERANS

W Larkins c Dyer b Whitney 18

C W J Athey lbw b Lawson 32

T R Robinson run out 15

*M W Gatting b Yardley 35

D R Randall b Yallop 62

C S Cowdrey c Dyson b Yardley 26

D R Pringle b Whitney 5

P R Downton lbw b Whitney 0

N V Radford not out 36

J E Emburey not out 18

Extras (b5, lb8, nb1, w7) 21

Total (for 8, 45 overs) 268

Did not bat: D L Underwood.

Fall: 1-44 2-69 3-77 4-153 5-204 6-207 7-208 8-218.

Bowling: Alderman 9-0-37-0; Whitney 9-0-40-3; Lawson 9-0-62-1; Yardley 9-0-55-2; Yallop 9-0-61-1.

AUSTRALIA VETERANS

B M Laird b Underwood 45

J Dyson run out 44

G N Yallop b Emburey 37

K J Hughes lbw b Underwood 12

W B Phillips b Emburey 49

G C Dyer not out 33

G M Wood not out 18

Extras (lb4, nb1, w11) 16

Total (for 5, 45 overs) 254

Did not bat: B Yardley, T M Alderman, *G F Lawson, M R Whitney.

Fall: 1-88 2-101 3-126 4-195 5-204.

Bowling: Radford 9-0-71-0; Pringle 9-0-44-0; Emburey 9-0-40-2; Underwood 9-1-36-2; Cowdrey 5-0-30-0; Athey 4-0-29-0.

Man of the match: Derek Randall (England).