Townsville (Australia), Aug 11: The ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2012 got under way in Queensland on Saturday with hosts Australia defeating England and Bangladesh stunning Sri Lanka by 25 runs.
In the other matches on the opening day, Pakistan defeated Afghanistan by 109 runs on the Sunshine Coast while Zimbabwe had the better of Papua New Guinea (PNG) by 145 runs in Townsville.
Here are the results and scores in brief from the opening day of the Under-19 World Cup.
Group A - Australia beat England
The Australia U19 side had a dream start to its defence of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup with a six-wicket win against arch rival England in Townsville on Saturday.
Group B - Pakistan beats Afghanistan
Determined qualifiers Afghanistan had high hopes coming into its opening round clash against Pakistan, but it was soon dashed by the in-form Pakistan line-up.
Pakistan batted strongly to score 253 for six, with captain Babar Azam scoring a patient 75 (103b, 7x4) at the top of the order, and Mohammad Nawaz (66; 50b, 7x4, 1x6) and Umar Waheed (43 not out) putting on a potent stand of 103 for the sixth wicket.
Afghanistan, which had earmarked the clash with Pakistan as a key fixture, again got some handy runs from Hashmatullah Shaidi (50; 77b, 3x4) at the top of the order, but it was not enough to mount a challenge to the Pakistan total.
Afghanistan was finally dismissed for 144, with left-arm quick Zia-ul-Haq snapping up four for 30 from 8.1 overs.
Group C - Zimbabwe defeats PNG
Zimbabwe made a confident start to their campaign claiming a first up win over qualifier Papua New Guinea.
Right-handed opener Kevin Kasuza top-scored for the side making 97 (121b, 9x4), combining with Luke Masasire (47) for a century stand for the opening wicket, before he was dismissed LBW by all-rounder Chad Soper.
Group D - Anamul Haque's century sinks Sri Lanka
Bangladesh made a rousing start with a 25-run win over Sri Lanka at Allan Border Field in their opening match in Brisbane.
Led by a superb century from captain Anamul Haque (101; 127b, 9x4, 1x6), the Tigers showed that it is ready to make a statement in Group D where it is drawn alongside South Africa and Namibia.
Brief Scores
Group A: Australia beat England by six wickets, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
England 143 all out, 38.3 overs (Craig Overton 35, Adam Ball 20; Gurinder Sandhu 3-27, Ashton Turner 3-30)
Australia 147 for four, 35.1 overs (Travis Head 57 n.o., Will Bosisto 35 n.o.; Reece Topley 2-33, Jamie Overton 2-34)
Player of the match: Travis Head (Australia)
Group B: Pakistan beat Afghanistan by 109 runs, John Blanch Oval, Buderim
Pakistan 253 for six, 50 overs (Babar Azam 75, Mohammad Nawaz 66, Umar Waheed 43 n.o.; Sayed Shirzad 2-43, Yamin Ahmadzai 2-54)
Afghanistan 144 all out, 45.1 overs (Hashmutallah Shaidi 50, Mohibullah Paak 30; Zia-ul-Haq 4-30, Zafar Gohar 2-25)
Player of the match: Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Group C: Zimbabwe beat Papua New Guinea 145, Endeavour Park No 1, Townsville
Zimbabwe 249 all out, 50 overs (Kevin Kasuza 97; Chris Kent 5-45, Ray Haoda 3-43)
Papaua New Guinea 145 all out, 38.1 overs (Sese Bau 34; Matthew Bentley 2-20, Luke Jongwe 2-36, Peacemore Zimwa 2-40)
Player of the match: Kevin Kasuza (Zimbabwe)
Group D: Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by 25 runs, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
Bangladesh 249 for seven, 50 overs (Anamul Haque 101, Asif Ahmed 84; Sanitha de Mel 3-46)
Sri Lanka 224 all out, 48.4 overs (Angelo Jayasinghe 83, Lahiru Madushanka 48; Soumya Sarkar 3-10, Taskin Ahmed 2-44)
Player of the match: Anamul Haque (Bangladesh)
Sunday's (August 12) fixtures:
Group A - England vs Ireland, Endeavour Park No.1, Townsville
Group B - New Zealand vs Scoitland, John Blanch Oval, Buderim
* Group C - India vs West Indies, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
Group D - Bangladesh vs South Africa, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
Monday's (August 13) fixtures:
* Group A - Australia vs Nepal, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
Group B - Pakistan vs Scotland, Kev Hackney Oval, Buderim
Group C - PNG vs West Indies, Endeavour Park No 1, Townsville
Group D - Namibia vs Sri Lanka, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
*Indicates broadcast matches (LIVE on ESPN STAR from 5.00 AM IST)
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