Portugal and Denmark have secured their place in Monday’s final of the Europe sub-regional qualifier Group C tournament after beating Belgium and Spain respectively.

The day started with the concerning news that three of the tournament officials - Rizwan Akram, Mark Jameson and Ryan Milne - had been involved in a car accident on their way back to their hotel after yesterday’s play at Royal Brussels Cricket Club.

The trio were hospitalised after the accident but there were fortunately no serious injuries and all have been discharged. Due to the accident it was decided to abandon today’s fifth place play-off semi-finals and re-jig the schedule so that play-offs for fifth and seventh can take place on tomorrow’s rest day and also so that three umpires will be able to go home to recuperate.

Play started this morning with hosts Belgium, on the back of a confidence boosting win over favourites Denmark yesterday, batting first after winning the toss against Portugal. Muhammad Muneeb top scored with 40 from 35 balls but the only other batter to reach double figures was Omid Malik Khel who scored an unbeaten 26 at exactly a run per ball.

The home side lost a clutch of wickets from the 13th to 15th over, going from 83-3 to 86-7 in the space of twelve deliveries. Syed Maisam Ali and Amandeep Singh starred with the ball, taking 4-25 and 3-21 respectively as they bowled the Belgians out for 113.

Portugal’s reply started with Kuldeep and Sharn Gomes - who played for Western Province in South Africa from 2012 to 2014 - putting on 82 before the former was dismissed for 44. Gomes batted on and finished unbeaten on 52 as Portugal completed an eight wicket win, their first over Belgium since 2003.

The second semi-final this afternoon was a first ever meeting between Denmark and Spain at senior international level. Spain captain Christian Munoz-Mills won the toss and chose to field first with Denmark promptly scoring 154-7 from their 20 overs. Nicolaj Laegsgaard showed that yesterday’s score of 8 was just a blip in form as he top scored 45 from 32 balls to top score in the innings.

Munoz-Mills top scored with a 17 ball knock of 33 in Spain’s reply but that was very much a last gasp cameo of an innings with Spain largely out of the running at the halfway point of their 20 overs. Hamid Shah was the pick of the Danish bowlers with 3-20 as Spain were bowled out for 113, losing by 41 runs.

The fifth and seventh place play-offs will take place tomorrow with Gibraltar and Malta playing-off for fifth whilst Israel take on Hungary for seventh place. Today’s semi-finalists have a day off before the third place play-off and the crucial final take place on Monday.