Silverwood bowls England into semi-finals

An excellent over from England quick Chris Silverwood, which saw him claim three wickets while conceding just two runs, ensured that his team secured the only remaining berth in the championship round, thrashing Hong Kong by 30 runs in the last league match of this year's tournament.

When Silverwood came on to bowl the fourth over, Hong Kong, 52-0 in reply to the England score of 88-1, held the whiphand. But Silverwood, who has represented England in five Tests, turned things around in an over that was dramatic to say the least.

With his very first ball, he snared the Hong Kong captain Rahul Sharma after the latter had made 24 off nine balls with one four and three sixes. His next ball was again a wicket-taker - its victim Adam Smith falling for a first-ball duck.

Najeeb Amar, who walked in next, avoided the hat-trick and made it to the non-striker's end, managing to steal a leg-bye. Silverwood's conceded a wide off his fourth ball but he soon made up for his only error by stifling opener Khaled Butt (27 off 13 balls) before snaring him with his last ball.

The hosts' challenge fell apart after that; they only succeeded in scoring thee runs off the last over by Adam Hollioake, losing yet another wicket in the process. England now take on South Africa in the championship round while Hong Kong battle it out with UAE in the plate semi-final.

Earlier, captain Matthew Maynard made 33 off 14 balls while Paul Collingwood smashed 29 off 12 as England put up a fighting 88-1 in their five overs. Silverwood's heroics with the ball meant that it was soon to prove an ungettable target for the hosts.