ISLAMABAD: A scintillating double-century stand between New Zealand openers Jakob Bhula and Rachin Ravindra lit up the Hagley Oval as several records were broken during the Group A match of the ICC Under-19 World Cup against Kenya which the hosts won by a huge margin of 243 runs in Christchurch on Wednesday. Bhula’s astounding innings of 180 was the highest individual innings in the history of U19 ODIs, while his 245 runs first wicket partnership with Ravindra (117) was the best-ever opening stand in U-19 CWCs. The opening wicket partnership set the tone for more onslaught as Finn Allen joined the party with a belligerent 90 that resulted in New Zealand notching a mammoth 436 for four, the second highest total in ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. In another Group A match in front of broadcast cameras, Wandile Makwetu scored a run-a-ball 99 not out and fast bowler Hermann Rolfes took four wickets to help 2014 champions South Africa defeat defending champions the Windies by 76 runs. The result means New Zealand and South Africa have progressed to the Super League after two successive wins, while the Windies and Kenya, following back-to-back defeats, will now feature in the Plate Championship. Elsewhere, Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka by 32 runs to become the first side to qualify for the Super League from Group D. This result means the winners of Sri Lanka and Pakistan match on Friday, 19 January in Whangarei will become the second side to progress to the Super League from Group D. In the fourth and last match of the day, Australia coasted to a comfortable seven wickets victory over Zimbabwe to notch up their first win in Pool B. On Friday, 19 January, Australia will take on Papua New Guinea and India will meet Zimbabwe, and if both Australia and India win their matches, they will qualify for the Super League. Today’s fixtures: Bangladesh v England, John Davies Oval, Queenstown (Group C), Canada v Namibia, Bertsutcliffe Oval, Christchurch (Group C) Scores in brief: Group A 1: New Zealand beat Kenya by 234 runs, Hagley Oval, Christchurch New Zealand 436-4, 50 overs (Jakob Bhula 180, Rachin Ravindra 117, Finn Allen 90) VS Kenya 193-4, 50 overs (Aman Gandhi 63, Thomas Ochieng 39 not out; Rachin Ravindra 2-33). Player of the match: Jacob Bhula (New Zealand). 2: South Africa beat Windies by 76 runs, Bay Oval, Tauranga South Africa 282-8, 50 overs (Wandile Makwetu 99 not out, Jiveshan Pillay 47) VS Windies 206 all out, 45.3 overs (Alick Athanage 76, Kirstan Kallicharan 44, Gerald Coetzee 2-21, Hermann Rolfes 4-33, Jade de Klerk 2-40). Player of the match: Wandile Makwetu. Group B 3: Australia beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets, Lincoln 3, Christchurch Zimbabwe 134 all out, 33.2 overs (Robert Chimhinya 27; Xavier Bartlett 3-20, Will Sutherland 2-21, Lloyd Pope 2-31) VS Australia 135-3, 18.2 overs (Max Bryant 44, Jack Edwards 40, Jason Sangha 30). Player of the match: Xavier Bartlett (Australia). Group D 4: Afghanistan beat Sri Lanka by 32 runs under DLS method, Cobham Oval, Whangarei Afghanistan 284-7, 50 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 86, Darwish Rasool 63, Ikram Ali 55; Nipun Malinga 2-56, Thisaru Rashmika 2-64) VS Sri Lanka (target 235 from 38 overs) 202 all out, 37.3 overs (Jehan Daniel 48, Krishan Arachige 41, Ashen Bandara 38, Kamindu Mendis 32; Naveen-ul-Haq 4-35, Azmatullah Moarzai 2-37, Qais Ahmed 2-37). Player of the match: Ibrahim Zadran. Published in Daily Times, January 18th 2018.