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DUNEDIN, Sunday (AFP) - Australia cruised to a record-breaking 430-run victory over Kenya in their opening match of the ICC Under-19s World Cup in Dunedin Sunday.

Centuries from Craig Simmons and Shaun Marsh enabled Australia to record the highest ever innings total in an Under-19s World Cup match when they made 480-6 from their 50 overs. The Australians hit 21 sixes and 40 fours as the Kenyan attack was ripped to shreds in the group D encounter.

Opener Simmons top scored with 155 from 115 balls striking 12 fours and 11 sixes with Marsh, son of former Australia Test opener Geoff, making 125, hitting 12 fours and four sixes in his 98 ball innings.

Kenya had earlier won the toss and invited Australia to bat first on an excellent pitch -- a decision which they were soon to regret. Australia lost opener Jarrad Burke for 45 but a third wicket partnership of 168 between Marsh and Simmons enabled their side to build a commanding score. A rapid 56 from George Bailey and 38 from captain Cameron White compounded Kenya's misery.

The Kenyan bowlers will not be asking for framed copies of the scorebook with their bowling figures reading like a horror story. Nehemiah Odhiambo conceded 97 runs from 10 overs, although he can take some consolation from the fact he finished with three wickets, Jadavji Bhinyi was hit for 95 runs from nine overs, and Ragheb Aga 78 off eight overs.

The Kenyans fared little better with the bat with their innings coming to an end on 50-9 with wicketkeeper Morris Ouma retired hurt due to a groin injury. Number 11 batsman Alfred Luseno top scored with 18 as just two batsmen reached double figures.

Australia took two wickets in the second over when Robert Cassell removed Manoj Patel and Anand Gore with consecutive deliveries. Kenya were reduced to 19-6 as Cassell took 3-7 and Aaron Bird 3-15.

When last man Luseno was dismissed the Kenyan innings had lasted a sorry 81 minutes and they had slipped to the heaviest defeat in an Under-19s World Cup for a team batting second.

Elsewhere on the second day of the competition the weather again played a part with the start of the matches between Bangladesh and South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, and Pakistan and Papua New Guinea all delayed by rain.

When the matches finally got underway there were no surprises as the top seeded teams all won. South Africa beat Bangladesh by 110 runs thanks largely to an innings of 103 from Stephen Cook, son of former Test opener Jimmy.

In a match reduced to 32 overs per side Namibia were dismissed for 111 by Zimbabwe who got home losing just the one wicket with Charles Coventry hitting 64 from 58 balls.

In group C Pakistan's encounter with Papua New Guinea was reduced to 27 overs per side but it hardly made a difference as Pakistan dismissed their opponents for just 53. Opening bowler Umer Gul took 4-11 from six overs but Pakistan lost two wickets before sealing victory.

On Monday in group A holders India play their first match when they meet Canada at Colin Maiden Park in Auckland, England play Nepal at Lincoln Green in Christchurch, New Zealand and Zimbabwe meet at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval also in Christchurch, and Scotland take on the West Indies in Dunedin.

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