February 6, 2006	Monday	Muharram 7, 1427

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COLOMBO, Feb 5: Australia’s new generation launched the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup on Sunday with a crushing 175-run victory over in Group ‘B’ with opener Tom Cooper hitting the tournament’s first century.

Dubbed as the ‘group of death’ with West Indies also competing, Australia piled up 316 for nine in their 50 overs with Cooper smashing 12 fours and one six in making 104 off 134 balls.

South Africa never recovered once Aussie skipper Moises Henriques removed both openers in his opening spell. Simon Keen then claimed three wickets in as many overs to seal Proteas’ fate.

Hosts Sri Lanka had to work hard to get past Scotland by four wickets while Zimbabwe coasted to an easy 118-run win against Scotland in a game reduced to 44-over per side because of rain.

But Bangladesh, winners of the Plate Championship in the last World Cup hosted by them in 2004, pulled off a creditable victory against New Zealand with Mehrab Hossain Jr producing a fine all-round performance (4-29 and 38 not out).

Defending champions Pakistan, meanwhile, open their campaign in Group ‘A’ on Monday against Uganda at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium.

Summarised scores:

At P. Saravanamuttu Stadium:

Bangladesh beat New Zealand by three wickets.

NEW ZEALAND 175 in 45.3 overs (T.D. Astle 44, M.J. Guptill 28; Mehrab Hossain Jr 4-29, Suhrawadi Shuvo 3-36, Nabil Samad 2-18); BANGLADESH 176-7 in 37.5 overs (Mehrab Hossain Jr 38 not out, Shamsur Rahman 30, Mushfiqur Rahim 26; H.K. Bennett 2-39, T.G. Southee 2-48).

At SSC Ground:

Australia beat South Africa by 175 runs.

AUSTRALIA 316-9 in 50 overs (T.L.W. Cooper 104, A.J. Finch 74, D.A. Warner 54, M.C. Henriques 37; C.J. Alexander 4-47, B. Thompson 2-19); SOUTH AFRICA 141 in 34 overs (J. Symes 34 not out; S. Keen 3-10, M.C. Henriques 3-37, B. Cutting 2-24).

At R. Premadasa Stadium:

Sri Lanka beat Scotland by four wickets.

SCOTLAND 186 in 49.4 overs (K. Farid 76; N.L.T.C. Perera 3-26, K.P.S.P. Karunanayake 3-34, A.D. Mathews 2-30); SRI LANKA 187-6 in 39.5 overs (S.C. Serasinghe 64, A.D. Mathews 37 not out; G. Goudie 3-25).

At NCC Ground:

Zimbabwe beat Ireland by 118 runs.

ZIMBABWE 215-7 in 44 overs (K.D. Samunderu 61, S.C. Williams 29; G.J. Thompson 3-48, A.D. Poynter 2-32); IRELAND 97 in 29.1 overs (K. Meth 3-15, R. Higgins 2-8, A.G. Cremer 2-12, K.D. Samunderu 2-37).

Monday’s fixtures: Pakistan v Uganda at P. Saravanamuttu Stadium; West Indies v USA at NCC Ground; India v Namibia at R. Premadasa Stadium; England v Nepal at SSC Ground.—Agencies