A superb all-round performance from Kamal Passi led India to a comfortable win over Zimbabwe, while South Africa and New Zealand also posted wins at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Queensland yesterday. India batted first and posted a total of 6-261 from their 50 overs, with Unmukt Chand scoring a terrific 78 from 85 deliveries.
Passi also chipped in with the bat, hitting three late sixes in his five-ball 24, before he ripped through the Zimbabwean top order to finish with the figures of 6-23 from eight overs.
And although Malcolm Lake (118) played a superb lone hand for the losers, they were bowled out for 198 in the 45th over.
South African openers Quinton de Kock (126) and Chad Bowes (115) starred as they thumped Namibia by 209 runs in Brisbane.
De Kock – who scored 95 in South Africa’s tournament opener against Bangladesh on Sunday – smashed 13 fours and three sixes in his superb innings.
Bowes also found the boundary with ease as the pair added 212 runs for the first wicket, with South Africa finishing on 6-359 from their 50 overs.
In response, Namibia were skittled for just 150 with Theunis de Bruyn (4-20 off five) cleaning up the tail.
Wicketkeeper De Kock took four catches, while Prenelan Subrayen (2-40 off 10) also bowled well.
Afghanistan went close to pulling off a massive upset against New Zealand on the Sunshine Coast.
The Kiwis were bowled out for 198 after exactly 50 overs of batting, with Robert O’Donnell (69) and Henry Walsh (52) leading the way with the bat.
And after Afghanistan slumped from 0-19 to 5-26, the match looked as good as over.
But fighting efforts from Najibullah Zadrean (69) and Afsar Khan (42) saw the Afghans finish at 9-190 from their 50 overs to fall just eight runs short.
Jacob Duffy (4-40 off 10) and Matthew Quinn (4-26 off nine) were the best bowlers for New Zealand.
In the day’s other match, Australia cruised to a six-wicket win over Ireland at Endeavour Park in Townsville.