De Boorder leads NZ winning habit

New Zealand 295-8 (50 overs, A.de Boorder 100 not out, T.Astle 59, A.Rajp 5-61); USA 125 (29.3 overs). New Zealand won by 170 runs.

New Zealand recorded their second comprehensive win in two days, this time beating the United States of America by 170 runs to book a place in the final of the Plate Championship on Saturday.

Led by an excellent unbeaten 100 by 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 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 opener Todd Astle (59) and 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 for helping to ensure New Zealand did not get an even bigger total.

Rajp took 5-61 and although he was expensive he took wickets, always a priceless commodity in any form of the game.

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's effort was bright and breezy as he 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, as they confirmed the impression made on Tuesday that their batsmen are finally coming to terms with conditions in Sri Lanka

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.

Tuesday's bating hero for New Zealand, 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," he added.