Captain John Evans and the England Over 70s cricket team have successfully retained the Silver Ashes in Australia.
Despite losing the toss on a scorching day, with temperatures reaching 36°C, at the Howell Oval in Sydney, Frocester cricket legend Evans led from the front, forming a pivotal 95-run partnership with fellow namesake Chris Evans. While Evans described his own innings of 40 runs as “slowish,” it proved crucial in preserving wickets and keeping the team in contention against strong opposition bowling.
The opponents initially surged ahead, but England clawed back under pressure.
A mandatory one-hour heat break tested the players’ endurance, but the team returned with focus and determination. Facing a challenging scenario where the opposition required 104 runs off 15 overs with seven wickets in hand, the Over 70s team held their nerve and crossed the line to secure a memorable victory.
Evans, 74, who was named world Over 70 player of the year for 2024, praised the collective effort of his team: “I am so proud of the team. This win is a testament to the dedication, skill, and spirit of every player in the squad. Retaining the Silver Ashes means that all squad members will get the opportunity to play in one of the Silver Ashes ODIs, which is fantastic for everyone involved.”
The final ODI takes place at the Joe McAleer Oval in Sydney on Friday.
The squad then travels to Christchurch to play a World Cup round robin series between eight countries: Australia, Canada, Emerging Nations, England, India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and the USA.
England’s first game is against new World Cup entrants USA at Sydenham Park.
