KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18: Title hopefuls South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka overcame stuttering starts to win their opening matches in ICC Cricket Under-19 World Cup on Monday.
Bangladesh, however, had no such worries as they cruised to an impressive 178-run victory over a hapless Bermuda.
The South Africans collapsed to 179-7 by the 35th over, chasing the West Indies’ 222-8, before the eighth-wicket pair of Rilee Rossouw and Roy Adams put on a match-winning stand of 44.
Rossouw returned unbeaten on 58 while Adams made 26 not out after West Indian captain Shamarh Brooks had rocked the middle order with 4-39 in a Group ‘B’ match at the Kinrara Oval here.
The West Indian total revolved around half-centuries from opener Kieran Powell and Devon Thomas, who scored 53 apiece, and a brave 41 from Shacaya Thomas lower down the order.
The South Africans return on Tuesday to face India knowing another victory will almost certainly assure them a place in the quarter-finals with a game in hand against minnows Papua New Guinea.
Sri Lanka were aided in large part by an impressive all-round display by Sachith Pathirana to overcome spirited Nepal by 61 runs in a Group ‘C’ match in Penang.
Sri Lanka were reduced to 37-3 after electing to bat before captain Ashan Subasinghe led the recovery with a polished 46 and left-hander Pathirana chipped in with a 62 that included seven boundaries.
Thisara Perera clubbed 41 off 27 balls to set up a challenging total of 236-9 which Nepal found too much on a wearing wicket.
Nepal were dismissed for 175 in the penultimate over, their batsmen done in by the Sri Lankan spinners who shared seven wickets between them.
Left-arm spinner Pathirana finished with 3-31, off-spinner Umesh Karunarathna took 2-40 and another left-armer Navin Kavikara claimed 2-22.
New Zealand defeated Zimbabwe by 98 runs in a Group ‘A’ game in Johor after struggling early with the bat.
The Kiwis found themselves down to 39-3 before Corey Anderson rebuilt the innings with a superb 82. Greg Morgan was the next highest scorer with 27 in his team’s total of 221-8.
Zimbabwe captain Prince Masvaure claimed 3-37 but he was overshadowed by Daniel Landman who took 2-41 and then played a lone hand of 51 in a poor reply of 123 all out.
New Zealand’s opening bowler Tim Southee wrecked Zimbabwe with a brilliant 5-11.
Bangladesh piled up 260-8 after being sent in to bat and then shot out Bermuda for 82 in 26.1 overs at the Bayuemas Oval in the Malaysian capital.
Nasir Hossain was Bangladesh’s batting star with 84 while wicket-keeper Ashiqul Islam hammered a run-a-ball 69 lower down the order.
Bangladesh captain Sohrawadi Shuvo destroyed Bermuda with three wickets for nine runs in seven overs off accurate left-arm spin bowling. Off-spinner Mahmudul Hasan claimed 3-12.
Bermuda skipper Rodney Trott top-scored for his side with 20 as nine batsmen failed to reach double figures in a one-sided match.
Summarised scores of Monday’s matches:
Group A
New Zealand beat Zimbabwe by 98 runs in Johor
NEW ZEALAND 221/8 in 50 overs (Corey Anderson 82, Greg Morgan 27; Prince Masvaure 3-37, Daniel Landman 2-42); ZIMBABWE 123 in 42.4 overs (Daniel Landman 51, Tim Southee 5-11).
Group B
South Africa beat West Indies by three wickets in Kuala Lumpur
WEST INDIES 222-8 in 50 overs (Kieran Powell 53, Devon Thomas 53, Shacaya Thomas 41; Wayne Parnell 3-37, Abraham Pienaar 3-36); SOUTH AFRICA 223-7 in 43.5 overs (Rilee Rossouw 58 not out, Roy Adams 26 not out, Shamarh Brooks 4-39).
Group C
Sri Lanka beat Nepal by 61 runs in Penang
SRI LANKA 236-9 in 50 overs (Ashan Subasinghe 46, Sachith Pathirana 62, Thisara Perera 41, Amrit Bhattarai 4-42); NEPAL 175 in 48.5 overs (Sachith Pathirana 3-31, Umesh Karunarathna 2-40, Navin Kavikara 2-22).
Group D
Bangladesh beat Bermuda by 178 runs in Kuala Lumpur
BANGLADESH 260-8 in 50 overs (Ashraful Hossain 51, Nasir Hossain 84, Ashiqul Islam 69 not out; Malachi Jones 2-64); BERMUDA 82 in 26.1 overs (Sohrawadi Shuvo 3-9, Mahmudul Hasan 3-12).
Tuesday’s fixtures:
Group A: Pakistan v New Zealand.
Group B: India v South Africa.
Group C: Australia v Nepal.
Group D: England v Bermuda.—AFP
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