The America's team lost their opening Group A match in the Under-19 World Cup at the Moors Cricket Ground, in Colombo, Sri Lanka yesterday, slumping to an eight-wicket defeat to England.

The America's team, made up of players from Bermuda, Canada, United States and Argentina, managed just 105 in 33.1 overs althought OJ Pitcher, batting at number eight, was top scorer with 17. His runs came off 24 balls in 28 minutes and included two fours.

England passed their target easily, scoring 109-2 in 19.1 overs but Pitcher in a useful individual performance, claimed the team's best bowling figures, taking both wickets at a cost of 31 runs in seven overs.

All four Bermudian players played in the match but Pitcher's St. David's teammates Chris Foggo and Landro Minors, and Stephen Outerbridge of Bailey's Bay all failed to reach double figures.

Foggo and Minors opened the innings, with the breakthrough coming after just five minutes when Minors was dismissed for a duck with the second ball he faced. Foggo hit two fours in his patient knock of eight which came in 42 minutes off 32 balls. Outerbridge, coming in at number six, also tried to offer some resistence, scoring six in 23 minutes.

The only other Americas batsmen in double figures were number three bat Ashish Bagai and tailender Shahid Hussain Elani with 14 each. Bagai, one of Canada's best young prospects, captained Canada's youth team during a tour of Bermuda last summer, scoring his team's only century on the tour.

The Americas are also grouped with Zimbabwe and the West Indies. They play Zimbabwe tomorrow before meeting the West Indies on Saturday.

The West Indies won their opening match, beating Zimbabwe by 57 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method after Zimbabwe's target had been reduced because of rain. The West Indies scored 234-6 and Zimbabwe replied with 92-9 in 31 overs.

Hosts Sri Lanka were comfortable winners in Group D after dismissing Ireland for 134 in 47.1 overs and replying with 135-2 in just 23.2 overs.

There are four groups of four with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Super League and the bottom two teams completing in the Plate Tournament.

New Zealand, India, Bangladesh and Holland make up Group B, South Africa, Pakistan, Kenya and Nepal the four in Group C and Australia and Namibia the other teams alongwith Sri Lanka and Ireland in Group D.