South Africa cantered to an easy seven-wicket victory over lowly Papua New Guinea in a last Group B league match to keep their hopes alive in the under-19 cricket World Cup here on Thursday.
The junior Proteas bowled PNG out for a paltry 125 with Jonathan leg-spinner Jonathan Vandiar (4-27) cleaning up the PNG lower order after Wayne Parnell and Matthew Arnold had done the early damage.
Chasing a small target, the South Africans knocked off the required runs in 14.2 overs to make sure they improved their net run-rate. Pieter Malan came good with a cultured 56.
In Penang, Nepal beat Namibia by three runs in a thrilling low-scoring Group C match at the Malaysian University of Science ground.
Batting first, Nepal made 164 with Mahesh Chhetri top-scoring on 62. In reply, Namibia fell just three agonising runs short despite 65 from Louis van der Westhuizen and 41 from Sean Silver.
Brief scores:
Malaysia: 47 all out in 17.1 overs (Trent Boult 7-20) lt to New Zealand: 48/2 in 11.1.overs (Kane Williamson 27); Nepal: 164 all out in 49.5 overs (Mahesh Chhetri 62) bt Namibia: 161 all out in 49 overs (Louis van der Westhuizen 65); PNG: 125 all out in 45 overs (Tanti Heni 35; Jonathan 4-27) lt to South Africa: 126/3 in 14.2 overs (Pieter Malan 56); Bermuda 221/9 in 50 overs (Rodney Trott 64; James Hall 3-44) bt Ireland: 201 all out in 48.4 overs (Chris Dougherty 70; Christopher Douglas 5-40).