Favourites' fine start

Holders Pakistan opened their bid for a third successive under-19 cricket World Cup title with a fluent eight-wicket demolition of hosts Malaysia in double-quick time here on Sunday.
Major rivals India, Australia and England also brushed aside lowly opponents in one-sided preliminary round matches on the first day of the 16-nation tournament.
India defeated Papua New Guinea, the East Asia-Pacific qualifiers, by 195 runs, Australia swamped Namibia by 149 runs and England swept aside Ireland by 10 wickets.
Pakistan, who won the last two editions of cricket's premier junior event, needed just one session to complete an easy win over Malaysia in a Group A match in Johor.
The hosts were bowled out for 75 by the 25th over after being given first strike with Adil Raza, a 16-year-old right-arm seamer from Gujranwala, taking 6-29 off his 10 overs.
Left-armer Mohammad Aamer chipped in with 3-11 as nine Malaysian batsmen failed to reach double figures on the easy-paced wicket.
Pakistan surpassed the modest target by the 10th over before the lunch break with Ahmad Shahzad making an unbeaten 27 and Umar Amin 31.
India, runners-up to Pakistan in the previous tournament in 2006, piled up 280-5 against Papua New Guinea, who managed only 85 in reply in Group B in Kuala Lumpur.
Tanmay Srivastava led India's charge with an unbeaten 83 after openers Taruwar Kohli (40) and Shreevats Goswami (58) had laid a solid platform with a first-wicket stand of 100 by the 22nd over.
Papua New Guinea, who do not have a turf wicket at home, fought hard to reach 81-5 before India grabbed the next five wickets for four runs.
Left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdullah claimed 3-2 in three overs while Pardeep Sangwan, Ajitesh Argal and skipper Virat Kohli took two wickets each.
Australian captain Michael Hill smashed seven boundaries and 12 sixes in a blistering 124 off 71 balls that lifted his team to 312 all out against Namibia in Group C in Penang.
The Aussies, who were comfortably placed at 276-4 in the 40th over, lost the last six wickets for 36 runs with Ya France and Ashley van Rooi claiming three wickets each.
The total, however, proved too much for the inexperienced Namibians, who were bowled out for 163 with Steven Smith finishing with four wickets.
England, meanwhile, dismissed Ireland for 109 in a group D match in Kuala Lumpur with Steven Finn claiming 3-21 and James Harris 3-40.
England openers James Taylor (52) and Billy Godleman (38) surpassed the target in the 16th over to make an impressive start in the tournament.
The junior World Cup features the 10 regular cricket nations -- Australia, England, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe -- plus five qualifiers and the hosts.
The regional qualifiers are Namibia (Africa), Nepal (Asia), Papua New Guinea (East Asia-Pacific), Ireland (Europe) and Bermuda (Americas).
The 16 teams are divided into four groups with the top two qualifying for the quarterfinals.
The final will be played at the Kinrara Oval here on March 2.
In today's matches, Bangladesh take on Bermuda, Sri Lanka face Nepal, West Indies face off with South Africa and New Zealand meet Zimbabwe.
SCORES IN BRIEF
Scores from the opening day's matches of the ICC Under-19 World Cup on Sunday:
Group A
MALAYSIA: 75 all out in 24.4 overs (Azril 28; Raza 6-29, Aamer 3-11)
PAKISTAN: 76-2 in 9.3 overs (Shahzad 27 not out, Amin 31)
Result: Pakistan beat Malaysia by eight wickets in Johor.
Group B
INDIA: 280-5 in 50 overs (Srivastava 83 not out, Goswami 58, T Kohli 40, V Kohli 40)
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: 85 all out in 28 overs (Amini 26; Abdullah 3-2, Sangwan 2-18, Argal 2-5, V Kohli 2-4)
Result: India beat Papua New Guinea by 195 runs in Kuala Lumpur.
Group C
AUSTRALIA: 312 all out in 48 overs (Hill 124, Cramner 40; France 3-31, Van Rooi 3-25).
NAMIBIA:<.b> 163 all out in 31 overs (Botha 56, Westhuizen 48; Smith 4-41)
Result: Australia beat Namibia by 149 runs in Penang.
Group D
IRELAND: 109 all out in 31.2 overs (Dougherty 34; Finn 3-21, Harris 3-40)
ENGLAND: 110-0 in 15.5 overs (Taylor 52 not out, Godleman 38)
Result: England beat Ireland by 10 wickets in Kuala Lumpur.
MONDAY'S MATCHES
Group A: New Zealand v Zimbabwe
Group B: West Indies v South Africa
Group C: Sri Lanka v Nepal
Group D: Bangladesh v Bermuda