New Zealand Under-19 recorded their second comprehensive win in two days by beating USA by 170 runs to book a place in the final of the ICC World Cup Plate Championship.
Led by an excellent unbeaten 100 by Auckland’s Andrew de Boorder, New Zealand posted an imposing 295-8 after being sent into bat before dismissing their Associate opponents for just 120 in 29.3 overs with Canterbury seamer Hamish Bennett collecting 4-16.
The win follows on from their thrilling run-chase against Ireland on Tuesday when New Zealand topped 300 and they will now play the winners of the Nepal – South Africa match, which takes place on Thursday.
De Boorder’s innings spanned just 115 balls, included eight fours and continued his rich vein of form as he made 87 against Ireland.
With useful contributions from Canterbury opener Todd Astle (59) and Auckland’s Martin Guptill (42) to back up de Boorder’s innings, New Zealand made the USA bowlers suffer in conditions that were once more hot and humid.
The Associate side, playing their second game in two days after recoding their first-ever win in the tournament against Namibia on Tuesday, were indebted to Abhimanyu Rajp (5-61) for helping to ensure New Zealand did not get an even bigger total.
The other successful bowlers for the USA were seamer Dominic Audain (1-35) and Anil Deopersaud (2-49).
Astle’s innings spanned almost two hours, during which time he faced 79 balls and hit five fours while Guptill faced just 51 deliveries and hit seven fours.
Every one of New Zealand’s top eight batsmen reached double figures with the exception of opener Shaun Fitzgibbon, dismissed by Audain for a duck.
When the USA batted they lost wickets at regular intervals and after a promising beginning when they reached 35-0 in the seventh over through Kumar Ramsabad (19) and Dunae Nathaniel (19) they lost their way.
Only one player – Sumon Bari, with 23 – reached 20 and they never came close to threatening the target.
The young Kiwi’s quarter-final batting hero Tim Southee took 1-25 while Roneel Hira (3-35) and Jason Donnelly (2-30) also enjoyed some success.
Despite two wins in as many days, New Zealand coach Dipak Patel said his side still had more to offer.
“We still have not played to our full potential,” he said.
“Our preparation before the tournament was minimal and that was shown in our early results and we are still struggling with the new ball, although our spinners and medium-pacers are doing a good job now.
“I have no real preference whether we play Nepal or South Africa in the final as long as we are able to return home with something to show for our efforts in this tournament.”
New Zealand Under-19s v USA Under-19s
Plate Championship first semi-final, P.Saravanamuttu Stadium
New Zealand (295-8 50 overs, De Boorder 100 not out, Astle 59; Rajp 5-61) beat USA (125; 29.3 overs) by 170 runs.
