Matches played January 19 - 20
Dunedin (Carisbrook): Australia 480 for 6 in 50 overs (Simmons 155, Marsh 125, Bailey 56, Sorongo 3 for 97) beat Kenya 50 in 21 overs (Cassell 3 for 7, Bird 3 for 10) by 430 runs. Australia 5 points, Kenya 0 points.

If this had been a boxing match it would have been stopped on humanitarian grounds. Australia, the tournament favourites were put in and proceeded to pummel Kenya all over the park. By the time they reached their first 100, from just 88 balls, the game was beyond Kenya's reach. Craig Simmons was utterly brutal, smashing 11 sixes and 12 fours in 155. Shaun Marsh, son of former Test player Geoff Marsh, continued the assault with 125 from 81 balls. The final total of 480 was the largest ever in the Under-19 World Cup, beating 398 for 6 by Autralia against Papua New Guinea in 1998. But there was no respite for the Kenyan bowlers. After finally crawling from the field it was not long before they were back out in the middle - this time wielding a bat. The Kenyan top seven made only 12 between them. But 18 from Alfred Sorongo and 15 extras helped them limp to 50 all out in 21 overs. This was not cricket: it was licensed brutality.

Lincoln (Lincoln Green): Papua New Guinea 53 in 17.5 overs (Gul 4 for 11, Zia 3 for 18) lost to Pakistan 54 for 2 in 10.5 overs by 8 wickets. Pakistan 5 points, Papua New Guinea 0 points.

Papua New Guinea were flattened under a Pakistani steamroller in another absurd mismatch. PNG batted first - but slumped spectacularly to 15 for 8. On a good pitch only the two Williams, Mula and Harry, batting at Nos 9 and 10, made it to double figures. They brought about a recovery of sorts, but PNG's total of 53 merely prolonged the inevitable. Pakistan lost both openers to slapstick running between the wickets but still won with an embarrassing 39 overs remaining.

Lincoln (Bert Sutcliffe Oval): Namibia 111 in 29.2 overs (Taibu 3 for 14) lost to Zimbabwe 113 for 1 in 19.2 overs (Coventry 64*) by nine wickets.

Namibia's batting proved as crumbly as a stale biscuit, ensuring a routine victory for Zimbabwe. Tatenda Taibu, who has kept wicket for the Zimbabwean senior side in seven one-day games, now moonlighted as a bowler, taking 3 for 14. Michael Geef (29) and Hugo Ludik (22) tried to build a half-credible total but they had no support and Namibia limped to 111 all out in the 30th over. When Zimbabwe replied Taibu (31*) and Charles Coventry (64*) strolled over the finish line with 30 overs to spare.

Auckland (Colin Maiden Park): South Africa 252 for 4 in 50 overs (Cook 103, Jacobs 76, Amla 53) beat Bangladesh 142 in 46.2 overs (Chowdhury 79, Bailey 3 for 5, Reddy 3 for 22) by 110 runs. South Africa 5 points, Bangladesh 0 points.

Bangladesh were never in this one after South Africa's openers, David Jacobs and Steven Cook, began with a stand of 138. Jacobs was finally out for 76 but Hashim Amla rubbed salt into Bangladeshi wounds by smashing 53 from 46 balls. Cook was making brisk progress too, and he was eventually bowled by Talha Jubair for 103. Set 253 to win Bangladesh were never in with a sniff. Aftab Ahmed Chowdhury dropped anchor, scoring 79 from 123 balls, but he had little support. Much depended on the performance of Mohammad Ashraful, who in September became the youngest player ever to score a Test century, aged just under 17 or just over, depending on which source you believe. But he was out first ball and his team-mates quickly subsided from 130 for 4 to 142 all out in the 47th over. Ryan Bailey (3 for 5) and Brendon Reddy (3 for 22) did most of the demolition work to help earn South Africa a bonus point.

Lincoln (Bert Sutcliffe Oval): Sri Lanka 85 for 2 in 19.5 overs v New Zealand Match abandoned - rain. Sri Lanka 2 points, New Zealand 2 points.

The Under-19 World Cup began in incessant drizzle and squally rain in Lincoln. The organisers were keen for the match to go ahead but after only 19.5 overs of slipping and sliding the covers were brought on, never to be brought back off again. Each side received two points and the New Zealanders retreated indoors to watch their senior one-day side record a famous victory over South Africa in a VB Series game at Brisbane.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd