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CHRISTCHURCH, Jan 18: Christchurch’s weather has been much better behaved in the latter part of this week and if it remains that way the stage is set for a thrilling opening to the ICC Under-19 World Cup at Bert Sutcliffe Oval when host New Zealand meet Sri Lanka in the tournament opener.
Qualifying for the Super League part of the programme is top of the list. New Zealand and Sri Lanka are in one of the tougher pools with Zimbabwe the other Test-playing nation in their group while Namibia is expected to be a tough competitor.
No slip-ups can be afforded.
The Auckland pool where India, South Africa, Bangladesh and Canada meet is the other pool with three Test-playing nations in it.
Pakistan and England are joined by Papua New Guinea and Nepal in the second Christchurch pool while Australia and the West Indies are in Dunedin along with Scotland and Kenya.
Other pool play begins in all three venues on Sunday.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
Saturday (Group B): New Zealand v Sri Lanka (Bert Sutcliffe Oval).
Sunday (Group A): Bangladesh v South Africa (Colin Maiden Park No 1, Auckland)
Group B: Zimbabwe v Namibia (Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Christchurch)
Group C: Pakistan v Papua New Guinea (Lincoln Green, Christchurch)
Group D: Australia v Kenya (Carisbrook, Dunedin).
