ICC U19 World Cup - - James Vince and Joe Root Shine With The Bat; As England Thrashed Hong Kong in Their Opener

England eased to a nine-wicket victory against Hong Kong in their ICC U19 World Cup opener on Saturday.

James Vince and Joe Root made short work of Hong Kong’s 185 all out, racing away to the target for the loss of just opener Christ Dent and with 19.5 overs to spare.

Earlier, England skipper Azeem Rafiq won the toss and put Hong Kong in to bat. The difference between the two sides was soon apparent as Nathan Buck set to work, removing openers Shakeel Haq and Alex Smith, with the scoreboard reading an appalling 25 for two.

It took a sizzling 69 ball 65 from Nizakat Khan and Irfan Ahmed’s fluent 32 to bail the Asian side out of early trouble. The duo 67 runs for the fourth wicket before Ahmed was trapped in front of the wickets by Rafiq.

David Payne was the pick of the bowlers for England, picking up three for 24 from nine overs.

England got off to a flyer in their chase before Dent was done in by Niaz Ali in the 10th over. It was then all up to Man of the Match Vince, who entertained the gathering at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln with ten exquisitely timed hits to the fence and a sweetly timed six.