KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP):

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Pakistan recovered from a poor start to beat New Zealand by 27 runs and India outclassed South Africa in a six-wicket win in first-round matches yesterday at the Under-19 World Cup.

Australia defeated Nepal by 96 runs and England beat Bermuda by 10 wickets in other first-round matches.

In Group A, Pakistan were restricted to 156 in 47.1 overs after being sent in by New Zealand.

After slumping to 28 for four, Usman Salah-ud-Din (53) rescued Pakistan's innings by leading a 64-run, fifth-wicket partnership with Umar Amin.

Wicketkeeper Ali Asad blazed 42 from 43 balls before he was the last wicket to fall, giving Pakistan a modest total to defend.

But New Zealand crashed to 129 all out in 47.2 overs, hurt badly by three run outs. Ahmad Shahzad took 3-35 in his 10 overs.

After winning the toss and electing in their Group B match, South Africa were dismissed for 149 in 30.1 overs with Pradeep Sangwan snaring 5-44 for India. Ravindra Jadeja returned 3-23.

A 95-run third wicket partnership between opener Taruwar Kohli (54) and Tanmay Srivastava (47) set the stage for India's victory. Captain Virat Kohli's unbeaten 25 completed the run chase, sealing the win with a boundary as India reached 153 for four in 42 overs.

In Group D, Bermuda elected to bat first but were all out for 55 runs in 28.5 overs. England opener James Taylor made an unbeaten 43 in 38 balls, while his partner was content to rotate the strike and make eight in 26 balls as the pair reached the target in 10.4 overs.