Spain suffered agony for the second day in a row as France beat them by one wicket off the penultimate ball of their third-place play-off match at Cronkbourne.
Needing seven off the last over, Aamir Zahir hit the first ball for four but France were then presented with two no balls to level the scores. Zahir was then bowled by Sandeep Singh but last man Azad Pervez was up to the task and an inside edge off his first ball won the match.
Spain’s problems had started in the 26th over of their own innings when, after a stand of 69 between Charlie Johnston and Jim Cobb they lost their second wicket with the total on 84. Exactly 10 overs later they were 127 for eight as Zika Ali, Zain Zahir and Asad Pervez each took two wickets. Spain got up to 158 for nine with the help of 14 wides but the French were always in the hunt thanks to William Smati’s 64.
The opener batted almost 32 overs and left his side needing 41 from the last eight overs. Captain Tom Liddiard was out three overs later for 31 but Ammar Zahir with a more than a little help from Spain set up the exciting finale.