Punoo leads USA to historic triumph

Namibia 219-8 (50 overs, P.Grove 58, D.Botha 56); USA 220-8 (49 overs, H.Punoo 64). USA won by two wickets.

United States of America captain Hemant Punoo led from the front to spearhead his side's first-ever win in the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup on Tuesday.

Punoo's 2-36 and aggressive 64 with the bat allowed his side to beat fellow Associate side Namibia by two wickets with an over to spare and that means they will now face New Zealand in the Plate Championship semi-final on Wednesday.

For Namibia, so buoyant after a victory over Scotland in their final group game, there was the disappointment of defeat and they will now face Ireland in the Plate Championship play-off semi-final, also on Wednesday.

The match turned on Namibia's inability to score enough runs after setting themselves up for a decent total.

At one stage, thanks to half-centuries from Pieter Grove (58) and Dawid Botha (56) they reached 121-2 and later on were 151-3 only to be reined back in the latter stages of the innings.

Punoo was a key man in that process, as were pace bowler Dominic Audain (3-49) and Anil Deopersaud (2-32).

Then the captain played a vital role with the bat, marching to the crease with his side at 44-3 and making a crucial half-century in 76 balls, including eight fours.

Punoo said afterwards: "There is a great feeling in the dressing room as this is a big win for the guys and for USA cricket.

"It is our first win in the tournament and after this there is no reason why we cannot back up and get another `W' in the column against New Zealand tomorrow."

If Punoo was ecstatic, Namibia coach Andy Waller was frustrated.

"In every other game we reached the final ten overs of our innings with just a few wickets left and this time we had six (wickets) which was exactly as we wanted it," he said.

"But the guys then played poor cricket and when we fielded we had some poor misfields and we let 15 runs through our legs which should never happen on an outfield like this.

"The USA looked more urgent that us today and they got their rewards."

Grove and Botha added 62 for the third wicket with Grove, batting at number three, scoring his runs in 93 balls with eight fours. Botha reached his total from 80 balls and hit five fours.

But apart from those two players, no other Namibia batsman reached 20 as the USA bowlers did a good job of restricting the scoring-rate, especially late on in the innings, with the only blot on their copybook the 25 wides they conceded.

The USA made hard work of the run-chase as every player in their top seven reached double figures but only Punoo pushed on for a half-century.

At one stage they slipped to 44-3 before Punoo and Sumon Bari (28) added 59 for the fourth wicket to snatch back the initiative.

And when Bari was dismissed, Mrunal Patel (31) and Nisarg Patel (22) helped ensure the USA were not to be denied, despite the odd nervous moment, including two late run-outs.

For Namibia, opening bowler Floris Marx was impressive with 3-25 and Louis van der Westhuizen (0-29) bowl;ed his first five overs for just one run before Punoo opened his shoulders.

The other Namibia bowlers to collect wickets were Heno Prinsloo (1-44), Nicolaas Scholtz (1-42) and Andrew Louw (1-39).