Australia crush Namibia

The Australian Youth side opened their account with a formidable performance against African competitiors Namibia at the P.Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo in their Group D match today. Australia won the match by a massive 266 runs.

Having won the toss and elected to bat the Aussie top order compiled a massive 321 for 2 in their allotted fifty overs. All the top four were in the runs with fifties from Ed Cowan, Shaun Marsh and Andrew McDonald. Shane Watson scored an unbeaten 100 not out off just 104 deliveries, including three sixes and eight fours. Macdonald also remained unbeaten after blazing his way to 63 off just 48 deliveries.

The Namibian bowlers didn't help their cause by bowling almost five extra overs due to wides and no balls. None were spared with Burton Van Rooi being the pick of the bunch with a relatively economical spell of 10-1-45-0.

It was the Australian bowlers who turned on the carnage when the Namibians took their turn to bat, the Africans slumping in the space of 30.4 overs to be all out for 55. Extras topped the score with 16, only wicketkeeper Pieter Burger (11) reaching double figures. All five Australian bowlers took two wickets apiece, Nathan Hauritz ending the day with the figures of 5-4-4-2.

For the Australians the match provided them with the opportunity to acclimatise after their late arrival in Sri Lanka. Tougher battles lie ahead though and they won't read too much into this result. On Thursday they will play Ireland and on Saturday face the tournament favorites, Sri Lanka.