The Associate Under-19 sides predictably found the going tough in their warm-up matches against Full member opposition on Monday, all four losing by decisive margins.

Hong Kong, who are in Group A with India, England and Afghanistan in the tournament proper, spent a hard morning in the field at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, as Sri Lanka's openers Udaya Jayasundera and Andri Berenger both hit centuries.

Irfan Ahmed was the only successful bowler for Hong Kong: Berenger eventually retired on 113, and Irfan then bowled Banuka Rajapaksa for 40 before the Sri Lankan innings closed on 314 for two.

Hong Kong started shakily, paceman Chatura Peiris reducing them to 33 for three, but then Irfan Ahmed and Nizakat Khan began a recovery process, and after Irfan was dismissed for 55 Mark Chapman played a defiant hand with 69 not out, made off 77 balls with six fours and a six to take his side to a respectable 266 before the innings closed in the 49th over.

Canada, in Group C with Sri Lanka, hosts New Zealand, and Zimbabwe, at least had the satisfaction of not being bowled out by South Africa at Christ's College, although their 154 for nine was no match for the South Africans' 247 for six.

They owed this achievement almost entirely to Hamza Tariq, who came in with his side in desperate trouble on 37 for six after 16 overs, with Graham Hume and Samuel Mofokeng having collected five wickets between them.

Together with Asif Majira, however, Hamza put on 75 for the seventh wicket, and after Asif was stumped off the bowling of Dale Deeb for 30 he continued to the end, finishing with 55 not out.

Earlier, the South African top order had all got a start, opener David White's 44 the highest score in their solid total, while Darius D'Souza and Parth Desai were the most successful of the Canadian bowlers with two for 40 apiece.

At MainPower Oval in Rangiora the USA's Ryan Corns confirmed his potential with a not-out 60 against India, but he could not prevent his side losing by 112 runs against a powerful Indian side.

The Americans, who will be in Group B with Australia, South Africa and Ireland, managed to dismiss India for 266, although they were helped by the retirement of openers Lokesh Rahul and Mayank Agarwal when they had made 58 and 104 respectively. Their opening stand was worth 152, but the US bowlers fought back once they had gone, Naseer Jamali picking up three for 37.

Although Steven Taylor and Abhijit Joshi gave their side a reasonably solid start, the American batting struggled thereafter, apart from Corns. Coming in at 59 for two, he faced 86 deliveries and hit six fours and a six, but he eventually ran out of partners in the penultimate over with the total on 154. For India, Gaurav Jathar had the remarkable figures of three for 8 from five overs.

England were much too strong for Papua New Guinea at Elmwood Park, bowling their opponents out for 141. Matthew Dunn took three for 24 for England and there were two wickets each for Nathan Buck, Paul Best and Azeem Rafiq. Sese Bau top-scored for Papua New Guinea with 33.

John Reva then startled the English by claiming two quick wickets, reducing them to 10 for two, but thereafter Joe Root and Jos Buttler took over, knocking off the runs without further loss as England won by eight wickets with more than 25 overs to spare.

Papua New Guinea face Pakistan, West Indies and Bangladesh in Group D.

Elsewhere, apart from Ireland's convincing win against Afghanistan, Bangladesh beat New Zealand by 36 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method in a rain-affected match at Lincoln Green, and in another D/L result the West Indies defeated Australia by 41 runs at Lincoln No. 3 ground. At St Andrew's College in Christchurch, Pakistan's Mohammad Babar hit 103 and Raza Hassan took five for 36 as their side beat Zimbabwe by 38 runs.