Will Malajczuk crashed the fastest century in the history of the ICC u19 Men’s Cricket World Cup to steer Australia to a comfortable victory over Japan.
Chasing 202, the opener scored half of his team’s runs with a stunning 102 from 55 balls to secure Australia’s second win of their title defence.
Rain in Bulawayo saw the day’s other game abandoned, with New Zealand and Bangladesh only 10 overs into their match.
Malajczuk magic guides Australia
Will Malajczuk wrote his name into the history books with a blistering century from just 51 balls in Australia’s eight-wicket win over Japan.
Having won the toss in Windhoek, Japan elected to bat and were led by the in-form Hugo Tani-Kelly, as he and Nihar Parmar put on 58 for the second wicket before Parmar was run out for 33.
Tani-Kelly, who made a century against Sri Lanka in his side’s opener, batted through the rest of the innings with 79 not out from 135 balls, but he was always searching for a partner, as Naden Cooray knocked over the middle to lower order on his way to three for 31 from 10 overs.
Japan made 201 for eight from their 50 overs, and Australia quickly made headway in the chase as Malajczuk and Nitesh Samuel put on a 135-run partnership for the first wicket.
Malajczuk was the aggressor, making the fastest fifty in U19 World Cup history with a half-century in 23 balls, before breaking the record for the quickest ton, using only 51 balls to get to three figures.
He was eventually caught in the deep for 102, having hit 12 fours and five sixes, to leave his side needing 67 runs from 34.3 overs.
Samuel carried his bat, making 60 not out as Australia sealed victory with 20.5 overs to spare to leave Australia second in Group A, behind Sri Lanka on run rate.
Rain halts New Zealand early
New Zealand were put into bat at the Queens Sports Club and lost a wicket early as Hugo Bogue was bowled by Iqbal Hossain in the second over.
Aryan Mann and captain Tom Jones were going steady as New Zealand reached 51 for one from 10 overs before rain called an early end to proceedings.
New Zealand are yet to complete a match in the tournament, but their two points from two games sees them sit second in Group B, while Bangladesh have their first point on the board.
Scores in brief
Australia v Japan – Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek, Namibia
Japan 201/8 in 50 overs (Hugo Tani-Kelly 79 not out, Nihar Parmar 33; Naden Cooray 3/31, William Byrom 2/32)
Australia 204/2 in 29.1 overs (Will Malajczuk 102, Nitesh Samuel 60; Nihar Parmar 1/35, Charles Hara-Hinze 1/50)
Result: Australia won by 8 wickets
Bangladesh v New Zealand – Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
New Zealand 51/1 in 10 overs (Aryan Mann 20 not out, Tom Jones 16 not out; Iqbal Hossain 1/12)
Result: Match abandoned
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