Papua New Guinea won the toss at Affies Park in Windhoek but their decision to bat proved costly as the leading wicket taker in the tournament, Ali Khan was on fire again for Team USA (3-41) – who now has 12 wickets from three matches this week – tore through their top order.
Khan firstly had dangerman Tony Ura – fresh off his decisive knock of 87 in the victory over Hong Kong – caught by Steven Taylor for seven before trapping fellow opener Sese Bau (2) and number three Assad Vala (8) LBW to reduce PNG to 19 for three.
The middle order of Lega Siaka (32), Chad Soper (18) and Kiplin Doriga (30) tried to get the innings back on track but the 20 year old left-arm spinner Karima Gore removed Siaka and Soper before taking two other wickets to end with figures of 4-23.
Papua New Guinea were eventually all out for 127 off just 39.3 overs and USA’s opener Xavier Marshall and Monank Patel wasted no time in knocking off the runs. Timil Patel took two wickets and Steven Taylor one, whilst skipper Saurabh Netravalkar went wicketless he bowled a probing, economical spell.
The pair hit 11 fours and seven sixes between them as an unbeaten stand of 128 sealed a brilliant victory inside 20 overs, with former West Indian international Marshall bashing 54 from 57 balls and Patel ending on 70 from just 60 deliveries.
Having lost their opener and needing a dramatic late turnaround to beat Namibia in their second game, USA are now in a strong position to clinch an all-important top-four spot and seal One Day International status.
USA Player of the Match, Monank Patel said: “I am really happy for the team, I really wanted a good start from the beginning of the tournament but we didn’t get it. I am pleased I have got my rhythm back in this game. All the teams in this tournament are really good and competitive, it is so close, it depends on who is performing on the day to who can get the win. We want to finish the tournament on a high note and finish in the top four.”
Scores in brief
Oman won by seven wickets at Wanderers Cricket Ground, Windhoek
Hong Kong 176 all out, 48 overs (Babar Hayat 56, Tanwir Afzal 32; Bilal Khan 4/30, Khawar Ali 3/35)
Oman 177/3, 45.3 overs (Jatinder Singh 65, Mohammad Nadeem 31 not out; Kinchit Shah 1/25, Jhatavedh Subramanyan 1/47)
USA won by ten wickets at Affies Park, Windhoek
Papua New Guinea 127 all out, 39.3 overs (Lega Siaka 32, Kiplin Doriga 30; Karima Gore 4/23, Ali Khan 3/41)
USA 128/0, 19.2 overs (Monank Patel 70 not out, Xavier Marshall 54 not out; Chad Soper 0/21)
Namibia won by 98 runs at United Cricket Club Ground, Windhoek
Namibia 258/6, 50 overs (Stephan Baard 90, Craig Williams 65 not out; Saad Bin Zafar 2/32, Nikhil Dutta 2/38)
Canada 160 all out, 42.1 overs (Dillon Heyliger 29 not out, Rodrigo Thomas 28; Jan Frylinck 3/24, Zhivago Groenewald 3/42)
Points table
|
Team |
Played |
Won |
Lost |
Points |
NRR |
|
Oman |
3 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
0.844 |
|
Namibia |
3 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
1.277 |
|
USA |
3 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
0.843 |
|
Hong Kong |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
-0.13 |
|
PNG |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
-1.539 |
|
Canada |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
-1.412 |
UPCOMING TOURNAMENT MATCHES
Wednesday, 24 April – PNG v Canada, Wanderers; Namibia v Oman, WAP; Hong Kong v USA, Trustco UNITED
Thursday, 25 April – Rest/Reserve Day
Friday, 26 April – Canada v USA, Wanderers; Namibia v Hong Kong, WAP; PNG v Oman, Trustco UNITED
Saturday, 27 April – Final, Wanderers (ODI); 3rd v 4th Playoff (ODI), WAP; 5th v 6th Playoff, Trustco UNITED
All matches start at 09h30 local time.
