Under-19s cricket coach Arnold Manders has described Bermuda's World Cup curtain raiser against Bangladesh as a "David versus Goliath" affair.

Manders' men enter today's Group D match on the back of two heavy warm-up defeats against Nepal and Namibia and will be the massive underdogs.

"I guess you could call it a David versus Goliath match and we know Bangladesh are a very strong side," said Manders. "All we can ask is for the players to go out there and do the things we have coached them to do.

"It's going to be a tough task but they must play each ball on its merits when batting, and adopt a good line and length with the ball."

Seamers Malachi Jones and Jordan DeSilva have arguably been Bermuda's standout performers in their warm-up games in Malaysia and are likely to spearhead the bowling attack.

"Malachi and Jordan are our best two bowlers at the moment," said Manders. "Both guys have been bowling exceptionally well and hopefully they can carry their good form into the tournament."

Manders said the team's emotions on the eve of the clash against Bangladesh at the Bayuemas Oval were a mixture of nerves and excitement.

"It's fair to say the boys are nervous about making their World Cup bow," he added. "But there's plenty of excitement in the camp as well."

Bermuda will take on England at the Royal Selangor Club tomorrow.

Defending champions Pakistan thrashed hosts Malaysia by eight wickets with 40 overs to spare while Australia, India and England also posted easy victories in yesterday's opening day of the tournament.

Pakistan, placed in Group A, won the toss and elected to bowl, dismissing Malaysia for 75 in just 24.4 overs, with right-arm seamer Adil Raza taking six for 29 and Mohammad Amir three for 11.

Nik Azril top scored for Malaysia with 28, but nine of the 11 batsmen failed to reach double figures.

Pakistan had no trouble reaching the target in only 9.3 overs, with Umar Amin making 31 and Ahmed Shahzad scoring an unbeaten 27.

In Group B, India, runners-up in the 2006 edition of the biennial tournament, defeated Papua New Guinea by 195 runs.

In Group C, Namibia struggled to bowl out Australia for 312 in 48 overs, after captain Michael Hill made 124 in 71 balls with the help of 12 sixes and seven fours. In reply Namibia mustered only 163 before they were all out in the 31st over.

Australia, who were 276 for four in the 40th over, looked set for a giant total, but lost their last six wickets for only 36 runs in eight overs.

England crushed Ireland by 10 wickets in Group D, scoring the target of 110 runs in 15.5 overs with opener James Taylor making an unbeaten 51 in 63 balls. His partner, Billy Godleman, made 38 not out in 36 balls.

A total of 16 teams are taking part in the tournament, being played at seven venues around Kuala Lumpur, Klan, Johor and Penang.