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Easy wins for the favourites

India crushes Papua New Guinea, while Pakistan trounces Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: India, runner-up in the 2006 edition of the biennial tournament, defeated Papua New Guinea by 195 runs in its opening match while defending champion Pakistan, Australia and England also posted easy victories on Sunday, the opening day of the under-19 World Cup.

Pakistan thrashed host Malaysia by eight wickets with 40 overs to spare in Group A. After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Pakistan dismissed Malaysia for a mere 75 in 24.4 overs with right-arm seamer Adil Raza taking six for 29 and Mohammad Amir three for 11.

Nik Azril top scored for Malaysia with 28, but nine of the 11 batsmen failed to reach double figures.

Pakistan had no trouble reaching the target in only 9.3 overs, with Umar Amin making 31 and Ahmed Shahzad scoring an unbeaten 27.

In Group B, invited to bat, India piled up 280 for five from its 50 overs with Tanmay Srivastava making an unbeaten 83 from 76 balls and captain Virat Kohli scoring 40. In reply, Papua New Guinea was all out for 85 in 27.5 overs. Sayeed Abdullah Iqbal took three for two in three overs.

Hill scores century

In Group C, Namibia struggled to bowl out Australia for 312 in 48 overs, after captain Michael Hill made 124 in 71 balls with the help of 12 sixes and seven fours. In reply, Namibia mustered only 163 before it was all out in the 31st over.

Australia, which was 276 for four in the 40th over, looked set for a huge total, but lost its last six wickets for only 36 runs in eight overs.

Ashley van Rooi of Namibia took three for 25, with Ya France getting three for 31.

England crushed Ireland by 10 wickets in Group D, scoring the target of 110 runs in 15.5 overs, with opener James Taylor making an unbeaten 52 off 63 balls. His partner, Billy Godleman, made 38 not out off 36 balls.

A total of 16 teams are taking part in the tournament, being played at seven venues around Kuala Lumpur, Klan, Johor and Penang. The top two teams from each of the four groups will progress to the quarterfinals. The final is on March 2.

Top-seeded Pakistan is the only team to have won back-to-back titles at this level, having triumphed in 2004 and 2006.

The 2000 winner, India, is seeded second, with Australia — winner in the inaugural event in 1988 and in 2002 — seeded third. England, which won the 1999 edition, is seeded fourth.

The scores: Group B:

India: T. Kohli c Tom b Amini 40, S.P. Goswami c Ura b Reva 58, T.M. Srivastava (not out) 83, V. Kohli c Ura b Gavera 40, S. Tiwary c Tom b Kila 10, M. Pandey c Kila b Mado 24, R.A. Jadeja (not out) 0, Extras (b-4, lb-4, w-16, nb-1) 25; Total (for five wkts. in 50 overs) 280.

Fall of wickets: 1-100, 2-123, 3-194, 4-221, 5-262.

Papua New Guinea bowling: Nou 7-0-48-0, Mado 10-0-63-1, Gavera 4-0-28-1, Amini 9-0-54-1, Kila 10-0-38-1, Tom 6-0-16-0, Reva 4-1-25-1.

Papua New Guinea: H. Siaka lbw b Sangwan 0, A. Amini lbw b Argal 26, T.P. Ura lbw b Sangwan 15, J.B. Reva c Jadeja b Kaul 2, A.V. Dikana b Argal 1, C.T. Amini st. Goswami b Abdulla 11, J. Tom b V. Kohli 7, J. Kila b Abdulla 1, L. Nou (not out) 2, J.M. Mado b Abdulla 0, W.T. Gavera b V. Kohli 0, Extras (lb-6, w-11, nb-3) 20; Total (in 28 overs) 85.

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-28, 3-41, 4-61, 5-62, 6-81, 7-81, 8-83, 9-83.

India bowling: Sangwan 5-0-18-2, Kaul 6-1-27-1, Jadeja 4-2-12-0, Argal 6-2-5-2, T. Kohli 2-0-11-0, Abdulla 3-1-2-3, V. Kohli 2-0-4-2.

Group A: Malaysia 75 in 24.4 overs (Adil Raza six for 29) lost to Pakistan 76 for two in 9.3 overs.

Group C: Australia 312 in 48 overs (Michael Hill 124, Michael Cramner 40) bt Namibia 163 in 31 overs (Dawid Botha 56, Louis van der Westhuizen 48, Steven Smith four for 41).

Group D: Ireland 109 in 31.2 overs lost to England 110 for no loss in 15.5 overs (James Taylor 52 not out). — Agencies

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