Two Sri Lankans scored centuries as the side ruthlessly despatched Hong Kong, while Australia’s performance was an outstanding team effort with both bat and ball.

Other winners today included South Africa, England, Pakistan, India, Ireland, and Bangladesh, who beat New Zealand in a rain-shortened match.

India v USA
India’s 18 year old opener Mayank Argawal had the honor of scoring the first century of the tournament’s warm-up phase – he brought up his 50 off 43 balls and took only 33 more deliveries to notch up his ton with a towering six over extra cover. But after that impressive start India’s batting was chipped away by the USA, who dismissed India for 266 in 48.5 overs.

USA was set 267 to win – a tough ask but one they tackled steadily, getting through to the 49th over before they were dismissed for 154. Cementing the reply was the South African-born Ryan Corns who finished 60 not out including six fours and a big six through square leg.

Score summary:
India: 266 in 48.5 overs (Mayank Argawal 104 ret, Lakesh Rahul 58 ret; Naseer Jamali 3-37)
USA: 154 in 48.2 overs (Ryan Corns 60 no, Abhijit Joshi 26; Gaurau Jathar 3-8, Jaydev Unadkat 2-13, Mandeep Singh 2-22)
India won by 112 runs

Sri Lanka v Hong Kong
Sri Lanka put in a powerful batting performance against Hong Kong, posting 314 for 1 at Hagley Park. Openers Udara Jayasundera and Adri Berenger both made centuries before being retired – Udara’s coming off 112 balls while the more circumspect Adri took 127 balls.

Hong Kong was never in the running to chase down Sri Lanka’s mammoth total despite a dogged fight. Senior Hong Kong international Irfan Ahmad and Auckland-based 15-year old Mark Chapman put on 43 for the fifth wicket, and Chapman finished 69 not out.

Score Summary:
Sri Lanka:
314-1 in 50 overs (Adri Berenger 113 ret, Udara Jayasundera 102 ret, Banuka Rajapaksa 40)
Hong Kong: 226 in 48.2 overs: (Mark Chapman 69 n.o., Irfan Ahmed 55; Saranga Rajaguru 4-43, Chathura Peiris 3-24)
Sri Lanka won by 88 runs

Australia v West Indies
Australia looked in good form as they accounted for the West Indies in a rain-affected match at Lincoln. Australia was relatively untroubled by the West Indies attack, with all the batsman getting starts on the way to 319 for 7 – the biggest innings of the day. Opener Nic Maddinson top scored with 74, in an opening stand of 70 with Tom Beaton (44), while captain Mitchell Marsh kept the momentum going with 71.

The West Indies batsmen also got starts, with Yannic Cariah scoring 65, but were unable to stay ahead of the run rate chasing Australia’s total of – and with nine wickets down when rain stopped play early the Duckworth-Lewis calculation left them well adrift.

Score summary:
Australia:
319-7 in 50 overs (Nic Maddinson 74, Mitchell Marsh 71, Tom Beaton 44, Tim Armstrong 37, Yannick Ottley 2-50)
West Indies: 263-9 in 43.4 overs (Yannic Cariah 65, Evin Lewis 41, Jason Holder 34; Adam Zampa 3-41, Alister McDermott 2-60)
Australia won by 41 runs (D-L method)

Canada v South Africa
South Africa wrapped up a dominant display in their first official warm-up match with a 93 run victory over Canada at Christ’s College. In a rain interrupted innings South Africa posted 247 for six, with openers Dominic Hendricks and David White putting on 73 for the first wicket to set a solid platform.

The South Africans had the measure of the Canadian batting throughout. Opening bowler Graham Hume removed the top three and finished with figures of three for eight.
A late rally from Canada led by captain Hamza Tariq with a patient 52, was not enough to carry the associate team through.

Score summary:
South Africa: 247-6 in 50 overs (Cody Chetty 53, David White 44, Hendricks Dominic 41, Dale Deeb 34, Malcolm Nofal 32, Bokang Mosena 30; Parth Desai 2-40, Darius D’Souza 2-40)
Canada: 154-9 in 50 overs (Hamza Tariq 56 n.o., Asif Manjra 30; Graham Hume 3-8, Samuel Mofokeng 2-20)
South Africa won by 93 runs.

England v Papua New Guinea
England opened its tournament preparations in comprehensive fashion with a comfortable eight-wicket win over Papua New Guinea. Chasing a modest 142, batsmen Joe Root and Jos Buttler steered their side to victory in ruthless fashion, reaching their target in just 24 overs, for the loss of two wickets. Root finished 72 not out, while Buttler was unbeaten on 62.

Earlier England dismissed PNG for 141 in the 47th over. Sese Bau top scored with a defiant 33. For England Matthew Dunn finished with three for 24, while Nathan Buck, Paul Best and skipper Azeem Rafiq, each claimed two.

Score summary:
Papua New Guinea:141 in 46.3 overs (Sese Bau 33; Matthew Dunn 3-24, Nathan Buck 2-15, Paul Best 2-25, Azeem Rafiq 2-27)
England: 145-2 in 24.2 overs (Joe Root 72 n.o., Jos Buttler 62 n.o.)
England won by 8 wickets

Pakistan v Zimbabwe
Pakistan survived a late onslaught from Zimbabwe to register a 38-run victory. Defending 257 for 5, Pakistan had Zimbabwe reeling at 136 for 7 in the 40th over, thanks largely to a superb display of spin bowling from left-armer Raza Hassan, who secured a five-wicket haul. Zimbabwe rallied through Mazvita Zambuko who struck 60 from just 45 balls – but too late for a sniff of victory.

Earlier a century from Muhammad Babar Azam anchored Pakistan’s innings, sharing in a 113-run fourth wicket partnership with captain Azeem Ghumann (62). Hammad Azam also chipped in a quick fire 40 from 22. Medium pacer Nathan Waller was the best of the Zimbabwe bowlers, finishing with 2 for 23.

Score summary:
Pakistan: 257-5 in 50 overs (Muhammad Babar 103, Azeem Ghumman 62, Hammad Azam 40 n.o.; Nathan Waller 2-23)
Zimbabwe: 219 in 49.1 overs (Andrew Lindsay 61, Gary Chirimuta 40, Peter Moor 38; Raza Hassan 5-36)
Pakistan won by 38 runs

Ireland v Afghanistan.
Ireland’s captain Andrew Balbirnie led his side to victory over Afghanistan with an all-round display that included an unbeaten century. Afghanistan built a solid innings on 75-run fourth wicket partnership between Noor-ul-Haq Malekzai and Hashmatullah Shaidi. Shaidi went on to anchor the innings and finish unbeaten on 91, guiding his side to 221 for eight at the end of 50 overs.