Under-19s start in style

17 February 2008 | By Justin Goulding

Steven Finn collects the match award from Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive © ICC

England Under-19s opened their World Cup account in the best possible fashion with a crushing 10-wicket victory over Ireland in Kuala Kumpur.

Steven Finn and James Harris starred with the ball to bowl Ireland out for just 109 at Bayuemas Oval after England won the toss, and James Taylor and Billy Godleman needed fewer than 16 overs to overhaul their meagre target.

Middlesex seamer Finn returned figures of 3-21 to collect the man-of-the-match award, while Glamorgan all-rounder Harris continued his impressive tour with 3-40.

There were also two wickets apiece for Chris Woakes and Tom Westley as Ireland survived only 31.2 overs in the Group D encounter, with Chris Dougherty’s 34 the closest the minnows came to offering sustained resistance.

Leicestershire’s James Taylor hit an unbeaten 52 off 63 balls and Billy Godleman, of Middlesex, 38 not out off 36 deliveries to hurry England home.

“We knew it would be a fight and we didn't really want to slip in our very first game,” said England team manager John Abrahams.

“Being our neighbours, Ireland were certainly going to come at us full force but a win was the best way to start.”

England face Bermuda at the Royal Selangor Club on Tuesday, the second of the three group games that will decide the identity of the quarter-finalists.

Elsewhere on the first day of the competition, Pakistan began the defence of their title with an eight-wicket win over Malaysia after skittling the hosts for just 75 at Johor Cricket Academy.

India were also comfortable victors over Papua New Guinea – they triumphed by a staggering 195 runs at Kinrara Cricket Academy – and Australia captain Michael Hill smashed 124 off just 71 balls in his side’s 149-run demolition of Namibia at Penang Sports Club.