Bishop’s Stortford’s Simon Sargent helps England beat Australia in inaugural Over-70s Cricket World Cup final

Bishop’s Stortford cricketer Simon Sargent played a key part in helping England become the inaugural Over-70s World Cup champions.

The grandson of composer and conductor Sir Malcolm Sargent was at the crease when the team got revenge over Australia for an earlier round-robin defeat to win the final in Buckinghamshire.

Sargent began the tournament with an unbeaten 48 in England’s 266-run thrashing of Sri Lanka before his side overcame India by 150 runs.

He made 41 in a rain-affected nine-wicket victory over New Zealand before his score of 24 was in vain as England suffered a six-wicket loss at the hands of the Aussies in a game that was also hit by bad weather.

The team bounced back at Sargent’s home ground of Cricketfield Lane with a nine-wicket triumph over Wales and then completed the round-robin stage with another big 257-run win against Canada.

In the final at Wormsley Cricket Club near High Wycombe, Australia, who won the toss, amassed 208-8 from their 45 overs. Phil Drescher top-scored with 65 while Marcus Young snapped up 3-47 with the ball.

England lost Chris Evans in the third over of their reply before fellow opener Duncan Elder (74) and captain John Evans (78) put on 161 together.

The run rate slowed on a hot day, however, and England needed Derek Towe and Sargent, who were unbeaten on 20 and 14 respectively, to get them to 212-3 with 10 balls to spare.