India, South Africa ease to final for fifth place

India eased past England in the 5th place play-off semi-final, beating them seven wickets at Hagley Oval. India's captain Ashok Menaria grabbed four for 35 to help skittle out England for 176. Opener Jos Buttler struck six fours in his 78 but, barring a 59-run stand with Ateeq Javid for the third wicket, failed to receive support from the others. Maneria was backed up well by left-arm seamer Jaidev Unadkat, who picked up two wickets. India's reply was led by opener Akshath Reddy's 116-ball 94 who, supported by important contributions from the middle order, ensured victory was sealed with more than 13 overs to spare.

South Africa's humbling of hosts New Zealand in Lincoln sets up a 5th place play-off final against India. New Zealand, boosted by half-centuries from Jimmy Neesham and Corey Anderson, would have thought they had done reasonably well to post a challenging 250. But their bowling simply failed to measure up to the South African top order. Dominic Hendricks smashed an unbeaten 107, adding 124 with opener Josh Richards, who made 67. David White continued the attack, smacking 72 off 71 balls to ensure victory was achieved with 11 balls to spare.

The ninth place play-off semi-final between Canada and Ireland at Palmerston North was abandoned as a result of persistent rain.

Hong Kong upstaged Afghanistan by four wickets in the 13th place play-off semi-final in Napier. Irfan Ahmed and Waqas Barkat starred with half-centuries in Hong Kong's chase of 152 in a truncated 32-over fixture; the pair added a match-winning 95 for the sixth wicket after their side had been reeling at 49 for 5 due to Aftab Alam's early burst. Barkat, the wicketkeeper, was the more aggressive of the two, scoring at better than a run a ball and remaining unbeaten to see his team home. Afghanistan's innings had centered around a knock of 61 by captain Noor-ul-Haq but the effort was in vain.

Zimbabwe brushed aside USA in the other 13th place play-off semi-final in Napier, coasting home with 12 overs to spare. USA never really recovered from Nathan Waller's triple-strike early in the match, which reduced them to 40 for 3 in the 10th over. There was another triple-blow later in the innings, by legspinner Natsai Mushangwe, which sawed off USA's revival efforts at 90 for 5 - they were soon 99 for 9. Chasing 116 in 41overs, Zimbabwe were rarely in trouble, especially after the openers put on 42 by the 10th over. Legspinner Saqib Saleem took four wickets but couldn't stop Zimbabwe from winning by five wickets.