Cricket: Aussies thrash hapless Kenya

Australia were at their ruthless best when they thrashed Kenya in the under-19 cricket World Cup match at Carisbrook in Dunedin yesterday.

After amassing an outrageous 480 for six off 50 overs, Australia rolled Kenya for just 50 to claim victory by the small matter of 430 runs.

It was hardly cricket. It was a brutal, bludgeoning display of skill set against the efforts of 11 young men receiving a rough lesson about the game they are learning to play.

The Kenyans bravely asked Australia to bat on what is generally regarded as one of New Zealand's friendliest surfaces.

And so it proved. Led by century-makers Craig Simmons and Shaun Marsh, the Australians maintained a run rate of nearly 10 an over.

Openers Simmons and Jarrad Burke, both left-handers, looked comfortable from the outset.

Burke was dropped early in his innings and responded by smashing four consecutive boundaries off pace bowler Nememiah Odhiambo.

Australia raced to 50 off 50 balls when Burke skied Odhiambo into the hands of Kenyan captain Rageb Aga and was gone for 45 off 31 balls.

Aga then bowled Craig Philipson, and Marsh joined Simmons with the score at 100.

Simmons raised his half century with a six into the terraces.

He followed with two mighty blows onto the roof of the main stand.

Dropped on 79, he stroked the ball to the fence shortly after to reach 100 off 81 balls.

In no time, Simmons reached 150 with a six, before pulling Anand Gore straight to Jadavji Premji inside the boundary. He had hit 11 sixes and 12 fours.

Marsh, meanwhile, was in the 40s - he and Simmons added 168 in 107 balls - and moved past 50 in 39 balls with a six.

Marsh eventually fell for 125, having hit four sixes and 12 fours, but George Bailey maintained the momentum with a 21-ball, 26-minute 50.

Australia reached 100 off 88 balls, 200 off 159, 300 off 214 and 400 off 271.

The Kenyans were then confronted by the lethal new-ball combination of Bob Cassell and Aaron Bird.

Cassell took two wickets in his first over, Bird had three batsmen out for ducks and Kenya were in dire straits at nine for five wickets.

Tail-ender Alfred Luseno offered a glimmer of hope, stroking three boundaries.

But when he was gone for 18 the end was nigh.

Kenya will look to bounce back tomorrow against Scotland.

Today, Scotland play the West Indies in the second group D match.