Keith Spellman, the Clontarf leg-spinner, returned superb bowling figures of five for 16 off his 10 overs to help steer the Ireland under-19s to a six-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea in the Plate League of the World Youth Cup at Lenasia near Johannesburg yesterday. This was Ireland's first win in the competition and was a fine morale-booster for today's game against Kenya.

Batting first, Papua New Guinea got away to a blistering start, taking 24 off the first two overs. However, the introduction of Spellman in the 14th over transformed the game. Papua New Guinea went from 56 for two to 74 for nine, before a 44-run last-wicket stand and spilled Irish catches helped their cause.

Jonathan Bushe anchored Ireland's innings after Simon Carruthers, Ed Joyce and David Finlay departed with only 50 runs on the board. Bushe and Carl Hosford then added 55, and after Bushe was out just two runs short of his 50, Hosford and Brian Dunlop guided Ireland to a comfortable victory.