QUEENSTOWN: Liam Banks and Will Jacks slammed fine centuries as England completed a massive 282-run victory over Canada in their ICC Under-19 World Cup fixture on Saturday, a result that ensured Bangladesh also qualified for the Super League of the competition.Ireland pulled off a thrilling four-run victory in Whangarei to deny Afghanistan a top-place finish in Group D.

Afghanistan, who had defeated Pakistan by five wickets on the opening day in what was the crunch match of the group thus finished in second place owing to Pakistan’s higher net run rate.

England completed the league with three wins to top the group while Bangladesh qualified as the second team after their wins over Canada and Namibia, who will figure in the Plate championship which gets underway on Monday.

In other matches on Saturday, New Zealand defeated South Africa by 71 runs to top Group A, in which the West Indies won their first match as they drubbed Kenya by 222 runs.

England, champions in 1998, were virtually assured of topping the group before this match owing to their high net run-rate but did not show any complacency against Canada, notching a huge 383-7 after being invited to bat first.

Centuries from Banks (120 off 114 balls, 12 fours and one six) and Jacks (102 off 82, 11 boundaries), who added 186 runs for the second wicket in just over 30 overs, put them in a position of strength.

Canada, who needed to get to the target in 37.5 overs if they were to edge Bangladesh for a place in the Super League, barely touched the three-figure mark as left-arm spinner Prem Sisodiya grabbed three for 23.

Afghanistan put Ireland in to bat and restricted them to 225-8. Paceman Wafadar Momand grabbed 3-50 and left-arm spinner Qais Ahmed 3-32.

However, Afghanistan’s batting failed to chase the total as Harry Tector claimed three wickets with his off-spin bowling.

Scores in brief:

At Bay Oval, Tauranga: New Zealand beat South Africa by 71 runs.

NEW ZEALAND 279-8 in 50 overs (R. Ravindra 76, J.J.N.P. Bhula 44, D.N. Phillips 43, M.W. Chu 35, F.H. Allen 27; K. Molefe 2-49); SOUTH AFRICA 208 in 46.2 overs (H. Rolfes 108, J. du Plessis 54; R. Ravindra 4-32, J.J.N.P. Bhula 2-25, M.J. Fisher 2-36).

At Lincoln 3, Christchurch: West Indies beat Kenya by 222 runs.

WEST INDIES 318-7 in 50 overs (A. Athanaze 116, K. Melius 60, N. Young 57, K.A. Kallicharan 36, J. Royal 24; A. Desai 3-54); KENYA 96 in 24.4 Overs (A.R. Gandhi 37; B. Yadram 5-18, J. Royal 4-25).At John Davies Oval, Queenstown: England beat Canada by 282 runs.

ENGLAND 383-7 in 50 overs (L. Banks 120, W.G. Jacks 102, J. Davis 57; Faisal Jamkhandi 3-68, P.C. Pretorius 3-69); CANADA 101 in 31.5 overs (Pranav Sharma 24; P. Sisodiya 3-23, A.W. Finch 2-10, L.B.K. Hollman 2-21, R.I. Walker 2-25).

At Cobham Oval, Whangarei:Ireland beat Afghanistan by four runs.

IRELAND 225-8 in 50 overs (G. Kennedy 37 not out, H. Tector 36, N. Rock 35, J. Grassi 32; Qais Ahmed 3-32, Wafadar Momand 3-50); AFGHANISTAN 221 in 49.2 overs (Bahir Shah 35, Tariq Stanikzai 33, H. Tector 3-37, J. Little 2-40).—Agencies

Quarter-final fixtures

Super League

Jan 23: England vs Australia (John Davies Oval, Queenstown).

Jan 24: Pakistan v South Africa (Hagley Oval, Christchurch).

Jan 25: New Zealand vs Afghanistan (Hagley Oval, Christchurch).

Jan 26: India vs Bangladesh (John Davies Oval, Queenstown).

Plate Championship

Jan 22: Canada vs Papua New Guinea (Lincoln 3, Christchurch); Namibia vs Zimbabwe (Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Christchurch).

Jan 23: Kenya vs Sri Lanka (Lincoln 3, Christchurch);

Ireland vs West Indies (Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Christchurch).

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2018