Ireland, Scotland notch up fifth wins

Fast bowler Graeme McCarter's dream figures of 5 for 8 in 10 overs helped Ireland Under-19s decimate Canada Under-19s in Limavady, and take them to the top of the table in the Under-19 World Cup Qualifiers. Canada were shot out for 37 with half of their quota of 50 overs to spare, before Ireland made heavy weather of the paltry target, eventually chasing it down with five wickets and 37 overs in hand. Ireland's new-ball pair of McCarter and Shane Getkate ripped through the Canada line-up, claiming nine wickets between them. Ireland's top order were poor in the chase, several of them edging through to the keeper as Manny Aulakh and Jobanjot Singh bowled impressive spells with hardly any runs to defend.

A spirited fightback from Namibia Under-19s' middle and lower order got them back into the game from what looked like a hopeless position, but they eventually fell eight runs short of Nepal Under-19s' total of 217, at the Drummond Cricket Club. At 43 for 5 after 17 overs, Namibia were reeling but Merwe Erasmus and Christopher Coombe began a recovery with a 78-run partnership. Coombe's 30 runs, though, took 76 balls, and when he fell in the 39th over Namibia needed 97 from 67 balls. Shalako Groenewald nearly got them there, with his boundary-filled 44 off 35 but he was dismissed by seamer Krishna Karki, who then got rid of Erasmus for 63 two balls later.

A few late hits from the tailenders weren't enough to get Namibia past Nepal's total, which had been built on the back of a 79-run opening stand and a half-century from Naresh Budayair. Nepal had built a solid foundation for a big total but were pegged back by Coombe, who took six wickets. Their 217 was enough in the end though.

Scotland Under-19s picked up their fifth win of the tournament, beating Afghanistan Under-19s by 33 runs at New Strabane Park. Scotland went about building their total of 218 steadily, with Freddie Coleman and Peter Ross crafting careful half-centuries before the lower order scrambled together some quick runs at the end. Sayed Shirzad made it hard for the batsmen to get away and finished with 4 for 33. His efforts were wasted by Afghanistan's top order, who slipped to 41 for 5 inside 12 overs of their reply. Afsar Khan's 84 lent the innings some respectability but Scotland were always on top and bowled Afghanistan out in 47.5 overs.

United States of America Under-19s crushed Kenya Under-19s by 130 runs at the Bready Cricket Club. Kenya's batting collapsed for just 108, with Duncan Allan getting 46 and only two other players reaching double digits. The wickets were spread around among the USA bowlers, with Salman Ahmad's figures of 3 for 14 the most impressive. USA had reached their total of 238 for 9 thanks to Greg Sewdial's 68 and healthy contributions from the rest of the top order.

Vanuatu Under-19s are still winless in the competition, after they received a trouncing by 118 runs from Papua New Guinea Under-19s at the Bready Cricket Club No. 2 Ground. Vanuatu leaked 70 runs in the last ten overs to let PNG get to 245, and then collapsed for 127. Lega Siaka, Christopher Kent and Dogodo Bau all got into the forties for PNG, though none pushed on to get a half-century. Norman Vanua was PNG's most successful bowler, taking 3 for 15.