Zimbabwe fast bowler Tinashe Panyangara destroyed champions Australia with a six-wicket burst in a must-win Group A clash at Shaheed Chandu Stadium. While tiny Nepal, coached by former Sri Lankan Test star Roy Dias, pulled off an exciting one-wicket win against title-contenders South Africa at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium.

But thankfully it was not all doom and gloom for major teams as India and West Indies recorded victories over New Zealand and Papua New Guinea respectively in other venues.

NEPAL V SOUTH AFRICA
An all-round show by Shakti Prasad Gauchan led the boys from the Himalayan Kingdom to enjoy their greatest moment as an ICC associate member.

After taking two South African wickets, Gauchan then steered the team home scoring 51 not out.

The target for Nepal was a very modest 157 in 50 overs but in the end they needed six runs off the final over.

And when last man Kesari somehow managed to edge the ball off Vaughn van Jaarsveld's fourth ball past outstretched right hand of the Protea wicketkeeper for four it created a roar in the packed stadium.

Kesari besides hitting the winning runs was instrumental in a last wicket stand worth 19 runs.

In a cameo knock Kesari hit 13 runs off nine balls with beautiful fours in a game where fortunes swung like a pendulum.

Roy Dias always believed the strength of his side lay in the batting and that was evident again against the mighty South Africans.

Only inexperience cost them losing four wickets for just six runs after at one stage being 118-4.

Earlier, South Africa were bowled out for 156 with only Keegan Africa standing tall with a superb 52 not out off 62 balls.

Manjeet Shreshtha was the pick of Nepal bowlers with figure 4-15.

"It is an outcome of disciplined batting and bowling," said a happy Dias during the post match briefing.

The famed Sri Lankan was looking forward to defeating Uganda today to move into unknown territory the Super League.

Man-of-the-match Shakti Prasad was ecstatic and hardly found any words to express his feelings.

"I'm happy and will try to win the next match," he uttered.

The South Africans were still coming to terms with the shock defeat.

"We lost too many wickets at the beginning and that created havoc," said South African manager TB Shah.

AUSTRALIA-ZIMBABWE
Panyangara not only earned the man-of-the-match accolade but the right-arm quick's fantastic figures of 10-1-31-6 were the second best ever recorded in youth World Cups. The Australians never recovered after that burst of speed and aggression.

Reaching a relatively comfortable 50-2 in 11 overs, after electing to bat, Australia was decimated in the next seven overs and ended up making just 73 with openers Paine (19) and Doropoulos (26) crossing double figures.

Panyangara's partner in crime was fellow right-arm fast bowler Elton Chigumbura with four for 17 in five overs.

The Southern Africans, who lost to Sri Lanka in their opening match, got home despite losing three wickets in 17.1 overs.

Talking to The Daily Star Sport over phone, team manger Brian Freedman said that his middle-order totally failed to the conditions.

"If you look at the history of the youth World Cup we also struggled on the subcontinent when it was held in Sri Lanka in 2000 besides our preparation was not all that good because we assembled the team only on February 1. However I don't want to give those as excuses I think Phil Simmons who was a former West Indies international himself has done a tremendous job as technical advisor of the Zimbabwe academy. But we'll live to fight another day."

Freedman also paid tribute to Nepal's success against the South Africans.

"This result and Nepal's victory is the success of the ICC's development programme. It shows how smaller teams are catching up with big boys and this is brilliant for world cricket," he added.

Zimbabwe manager Dilipinh Chouhan was understandably delighted.

"To be honest I'll be extremely disappointed if we play to our potential and not win matches. To win against the best team in the tournament has certainly lifted the boys and we have the ability to go a long way in the competition.

"I think the match turned on its head when Panyangara was hit for three consecutive fours and Australia were somewhere like 51-1, He suddenly realised that he was doing something wrong and from then on he was simply unstoppable, said the manager talking to The Daily Star Sport over phone.

He added that the young bunch of Zimbabwe were the best to come out in a long time.

INDIA-NEW ZEALAND
It was Sunny Singh at the Bangabandhu National Stadium as India earned a 69-run win against the young Black Caps.

India, whose top-order went on the rampage against Scotland at the BNS, were given a rude shock by the seam of Findley, Smith and Davis who shared nine wickets. But Singh's arrival with the score at 101-6 heralded a dramatic turnaround for the boys of coach Robin Singh.

Sunny crafted 68 not out off 81 balls and featured in major partnerships as the Indians rallied to end on 215 in 47.2 overs.

The total was always going to be difficult on a slow wicket and once New Zealand lost opener Watling was run out for 55, the task became near impossible and as the Kiwis eventually crawled to 146 all out in 44.5 overs.

The win pleased the Indian coach.

"We almost confirmed our place in the Super League but I am not fully satisfied with the boys performance because the batsmen did some silly mistakes against the swing bowling," said the former Indian one-day star afterwards.

When he was asked about the last group match against Bangladesh, Singh, the all-rounder, said he is looking to finish the group stage with an all-win record.

"Bangladesh are very strong opponents. But we will give our hundred per cent to secure top place," he added.

Both teams meet tomorrow at the same venue. |

On the other hand New Zealand team coach Dayle Hadlee said that two crucial run outs cost them.

"My bowlers did an excellent job restricting the strong Indian batting line-up but those two run outs spoiled everything," said the elder brother of legendary bowler Sir Richard Hadlee.

He was looking to bounce back with a convincingly win over Scotland in their last group match today.

WEST INDIES V PAPUA NEW GUINEA
West Indies roared to 371-3 with centuries by Maraj and Simmons and then booked the islanders for 219 in 44.2 overs.

The only concern for the Caribbeans was the fitness of star fast bowler Ravi Rampaul who had to leave the field after bowling 3.2 overs.

"He suffered from breathlessness and vomited while bowling. We didn't want to risk him and took him off. Hopefully he'll return for the next matches," said manager Roland Sampath over phone fropm Khulna.