DHAKA, Feb 18: Defending champions Australia suffered a shock seven-wicket thrashing on Wednesday at the hands of minnows Zimbabwe after being dismissed for their lowest-ever total on a day of upsets in the ICC Under-19 World Cup.
Right-arm fast bowler Tinashe Panyangara captured six for 31 as Australia, electing to bat first, was dismissed for just 73 in the northern Bangladesh town of Bogra. Four of his victims were caught by wicket-keeper Brendon Taylor.
Elton Chigumbura took the remaining four wickets for 17 runs as the Australians were bowled out in only 19 overs. Australia batted to a confident 50-1 before the unexpected collapse. Eight Australian batsmen managed only 17 runs between them. Theo Doropoulos scored 26 with his opening partner Tim Paine making 19.
Zimbabwe wrapped up the match before lunch cruising to a total of 75 for three in 18 overs. Australia must now defeat Sri Lanka in their last Group 'A' match on Friday to have any hope of retaining the title.
Australia won their first match against weaker Canada by six wickets on Monday. Lowly Nepal, meanwhile, stunned South Africa in a thrilling finish by one wicket at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium in the Group 'B' fixture.
South Africa slipped to 62 for seven before tailender Keegan Africa lifted them to 156 with an unbeaten 52 off 62 balls. Nepal's opening bowler Manjeet Shrestha was the chief destroyer, taking four wickets for 15 runs in his 10-over spell.
Shakti Gauchan then played a captain's innings to guide Nepal home with just two balls to spare. He ended up with a cool 51 off 140 deliveries. Minnows Papua New Guinea batted bravely to reach 219 in 44.2 overs, but still lost their Group 'D' match against the West Indies by 152 runs at the Khulna Divisional Stadium.
Opening batsman Tishan Maraj hammered 15 fours to score 117 off 112 balls and Lendl Simmons blasted 12 fours and three sixes in a 96-ball 107 as the West Indians amassed 371 for three in their 50 overs.
Opener Xavier Marshall had earlier clobbered 52 off 36 balls, striking eight fours and three sixes. Assad Fudadin weighed in with an undefeated 59 off 50 balls.
The qualifiers for the Super League phase from this group will be decided on Friday when West Indies face Pakistan at the same venue. A chancy unbeaten 68 by Sunny Singh, who was given three lives, laid the foundation of India's convincing 69-run victory against New Zealand in a Group 'C' tie at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Results:
At Bogra District Stadium:
Zimbabwe beat Australia by seven wickets.
AUSTRALIA 73 in 19 overs (T.P. Doropoulos 26; T. Panyangara 6-31, E. Chigumbura 4-17);
ZIMBABWE 74-3 in 17.1 overs (S.C. Williams 37 not out).
At Chittagong Divisional Stadium:
Nepal beat South Africa by one wicket
SOUTH AFRICA 156 in 50 overs (K. Africa 52 not out, G. Stevens 29, D. van Wyk 26; M. Shrestha 4-15, P. Khadka 2-22, L. Lama 2-34);
NEPAL 158-9 in 49.4 overs (S.P. Gauchan 51 not out, S. Vesawkar 27; C. Alexander 3-23, K. Africa 3-36).
At Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka:
India beat New Zealand by 69 runs.
INDIA 215 in 47.2 overs (Sunny Singh 68 not out, Gaurav Dhiman 38, A.T. Rayudu 36; B. Findlay 4-36, C. Smith 3-42, T.A. Davis 2-47);
NEW ZEALAND 146 in 44.5 overs (B.J. Watling 55, B. Wilson 30; P. Gupta 2-17, R.P. Singh 2-23, A. Sharma 2-33).
At Khulna Divisional Stadium:
West Indies beat Papua New Guinea by 152 runs.
WEST INDIES 371-3 in 50 overs (T. Maraj 117, L.M.P. Simmons 107, A.B. Fudadin 59 not out, X.M. Marshall 52);
PAPUA NEW GUINEA 219 in 44.2 overs (A. Vala 84 not out, M.D. Dai 32; J.C. Augustus 3-23, L.S. Baker 2-44, M. Matthew 2-49).
Thursday's fixtures:
Zimbabwe v Canada (Bogra District Stadium); Nepal v Uganda (M.A. Aziz Stadium, Chittagong); New Zealand v Scotland (Bangladesh Sports Institute, Dhaka); Papua New Guinea v Ireland (Khulna Divisional Stadium). -Agencies
Standings
Following are the group standings at the ICC Under-19 World Cup after Wednesday's matches (tabulated under played, won. lost, no result, tied, points, net run-rate):
Group 'A'
Sri Lanka 2 2 0 0 0 4 +2.11
Zimbabwe 2 1 1 0 0 2 +0.84
Australia 2 1 1 0 0 2 -0.52
Canada 2 0 2 0 0 0 -3.12
Group 'B'
England 2 2 0 0 0 4 +2.48
Nepal 2 1 1 0 0 2 -0.24
South Africa 2 1 1 0 0 2 +0.78
Uganda 2 0 2 0 0 0 -3.23
Group 'C'
India 2 2 0 0 0 4 +3.39
New Zealand 2 1 1 0 0 2 -0.65
Bangladesh 2 1 1 0 0 2 +1.77
Scotland 2 0 2 0 0 0 -5.86
Group 'D'
Pakistan 2 2 0 0 0 4 +3.18
West Indies 2 2 0 0 0 4 +1.58
Ireland 2 0 2 0 0 0 -1.45
PNG 2 0 2 0 0 0 -3.90
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