The Americas lost to Zimbabwe by eight wickets in the World Youth Cup in Sri Lanka yesterday -- their second defeat by that margin in two games. The result left the Group A team, made up of Bermudians, Canadians, Americans and Argentinians, with no chance of making the Super Eight stage of the tournament.

On Tuesday, they made just 105 against holders England, who knocked the runs off with few alarms.

And yesterday it was a case of deja vu as an alarming collapse allowed Zimbabwe, themselves victims of a thrashing by the West Indies three days ago, to take the points.

Americas coach Ron Dipchand had called for greater application in the batting and initially it appeared that he had got that as, after the early loss of Argentinian opener Carlos Gibson for three in the fifth over, Bermuda's Chris Foggo and his Canadian captain Ashish Bagai, added a cautious 47 in 19 overs for the second wicket.

But once Foggo had gone, run out in the 25th over for 16, and Bagai, who made 26, joined him in the pavilion with the score on 70 the Americas showed little stomach for the battle, losing their last seven wickets for just 25 runs in 14 overs.

Both Foggo, who faced 83 balls, and Bagai, who received 70, struck two fours in their innings, between them hitting half the boundaries for their side.

Bermuda's OJ Pitcher, who had a fine performance with both bat and ball in the defeat against England, was stumped second ball for a duck, while Stephen Outerbridge lasted 20 deliveries in making five.

Zimbabwe took just an hour and a quarter to complete the victory, with Canada's leg spinner Kevin Sandher taking the two wickets to fall as he returned figures of 2-20 in nine overs. Outerbridge was struck for 22 in his three overs, while Pitcher conceded 11 runs, also from three overs.

Americas manager, Bermudian Michael Glasford, said afterwards: "Our batting still has to improve, but we are slowly working out the kinks.

"Our opponents have an obvious edge in that they are individual teams who have trained together; we are still getting to know one another and this takes time.'' Meanwhile, the Americas final opponents tomorrow, the West Indies, crushed champions England by 99 runs, giving them their second win of the tournament and assuring them of a place in the last eight. England must now beat Zimbabwe to be sure of progressing themselves.

Two teams from each of the competition's four groups qualify for the Super Eights.

Useful contribution: Americas opener Chris Foggo