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Under-19 World Cup warm-up matches
Hosts humbled in opening encounter
Cricinfo staff
February 1, 2006
The first round of warm-up matches in the Under-19 World Cup brought victories for Pakistan, the West Indies and Zimbabwe. The outstanding performer though was 'extras'; Scotland and Uganda led the way with an astonishing 31 wides
Kemar Roach and Sharmarh Brooks bowled the West Indies to a comprehensive 87-run victory over the hosts Sri Lanka, after their batsmen had laid a solid platform of 293 for 6. William Perkins, Richard Ramdeen and Kieron Pollard all hit fifties with Pollard's coming from 45 balls with four fours and a six. In reply, Angelo Mathews played a captain's knock of 61 but the West Indies bowling was far too strong. Roach took a hat-trick with the wickets of Dilhan Cooray, Prabudha Perera and Sachith Pathirana and finished with 4 for 44.
Ali Asad struck a plucky 41 for Pakistan who beat Australia by three wickets at Moratuwa in their first match. Jamshed Ahmed's three wickets helped restrict Australia to 215, with a lone half-century from Usman Khawaja. Despite fifties from Mohammad Ibrahim (62) and Nasir Jamshed (56), six of Pakistan's top nine fell for under 10 in their pursuit, making Asad's unbeaten knock all the more impressive.
Zimbabwe swept to an easy
104-run victory in their warm up against Uganda. Ryan Higgins batted confidently for his 56, before Keagan Meth struck a lightning-fast 51 from 24 balls, taking his side to 283 for 8. In reply, Uganda crumbled meekly with Raymond Otim making 48 from 101 balls to help his side avoid being bowled out.
A competitive total of 252 for 7 wasn't enough for Scotland in their match against Ireland. Ireland, who were afforded the luxury of 48 extras, snuck past in the final over with two wickets in hand thanks to an unbeaten 28 from Richard Stirling. Gareth McKee and Fintan McAllister launched Ireland's reply with an aggressive opening stand of 132. But extras played its role in both innings; Ireland conceded 30 wides, with Greg Thompson contributing 17, while Scotland let through 31 wides.
Namibia's 201 for 7 was easily reached by Nepal who romped home by seven wickets with an over to spare. Ewaid Steenkamp (50) and Henno Prinsloo (57) were Namibia's only major contributors, with Raj Shrestha picking up 3 for 34. Kanishka Chaugai top-scored for Nepal with a captain's knock of 49, with Sharad Vesawkar taking them home with a patient 33.
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