Sri Lanka had the honour of recording the first-ever victory at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra when they defeated Zimbabwe by two wickets in an exciting Group A engagement. While England and Pakistan both kicked off their campaigns with comfortable eight-wicket wins against lowly Nepal and Papua New Guinea in Chittagong and Khulna respectively.

SRI LANKA V ZIMBABWE

Our Bogra Correspondent adds: After Sri Lankan captain Mahroof called the coin correctly he had no hesitation in asking the Zimba-bweans to bat first at the country's newest venue.

The decision was worth it as the islanders bowled their opponents out for only 161 in 49.3 overs.

The southern Africans never recovered once they lost three wickets for ten runs. But Sean Williams and

Colin de Grandhomme carried the fight to the Lankans.

Williams top-scored with 47 off 110 balls with five fours and a six. Lower-order batsman Grandho-mme made a useful 67-ball 41 containing three boundaries and a six.

The Lankan skipper was the chief wrecker with four for 28.

Sri Lanka made heavy weather of a relatively easily total and eventually got home in 38.2 overs thanks to a rapid-fire 37 not out by all-rounder Kosala Kulasekara. The man-of-match performance contained six fours.

Besides DE Silva scored 33 and G Rathnyake added 22.

Right-arm medium pacer Elton Chigambara captured three wickets for 37 runs.

ENGLAND V NEPAL

Away at the MA Aziz Stadium our Chittagong Staff Correspondent adds: 1998 champions England cantered past the Nepal total of 191-8 with seven overs left in a one-sided Group B game.

The English boys of Alastair Cook relied on an unbeaten 78 by wicketkeeper Steven Davies after losing their skipper cheaply.

Left hander Davis hammered seven boundaries. The other notable score came from the bat of 18-year-old Ravinder Singh Bopara (59 off 94 balls).

The Nepalese boys earlier gave a good account of themselves after winning the toss. The architect of their innings was a staunch half-century by Sharad Vesawkar.

The right-handed Vesawkar's 82 off 121 balls featured nine fours.

He received good support from Manoj Katuwal (30 not out) as they withstood the accurate English seamers.

The pair featured in a seventh wicket stand of 80 runs as Nepal made their second highest total against England in the history of Under-19 cricket.

Incidentally their best score is 196 in 46.3 overs during the Sri Lanka edition in 2000.

Both Nepalese coach Roy Dias and captain Shakti Prasad Gauchan were disappointed with their team's performance.

"We didn't bat well. Also we dropped vital catches. We will need to improve in these departments," they said.

English skipper Cook, however, praised the Nepalese bowlers.

"They frustrated our attempts of an early victory with good line and length."

PAKISTAN V PNG

Pakistan breezed past Papua New Guinea in their opening Group D match at the newly-built Khulna Divisional Stadium.

Pakistan captain Khaled Latif invited PNG to bat and they were soon out for 60 runs in just 17.5 overs.

Only one-down Asad Vala managed to trouble the statisticians with 10.

Four PNG batsmen including skipper Chris Amini were sent back without opening their accounts. The ICC associate member team never came to terms with Riaz Afridi.

The Peshawar pacer grabbed four for 15 in a hostile seven-over spell. He deservedly earned the player-of the-match award.

Leg-break bowler Mansoor Amzad from Sialkot claimed three wickets for just five runs and Lahore left-arm medium pacer Wahab Riaz took two wickets.

Pakistan lost both openers before getting home in 14.5 overs.