The CLICO Under-15 International tournament started the group phase yesterday. In one of two associate versus associate matches yesterday, Malaysia were triumphant over the Americas in a close, low-scoring match.

Malaysia won the toss and chose to field first. The Americas innings was built around 64 from Chicago's Abhijit Joshi, though no other batsman could stay with him, with extras the next highest scorer with 28 as the Americas were bowled out for 156. Ahmad Zahid was the pick of the Malaysia bowlers with 3/36.

Malaysia's reply started with two good partnerships for the first and second wickets - 41 for the first and 57 for the second. However, Faizsal Niaz-Lyn (32) and Kiethal Goonasagaran (33) were the only batsmen to get a start and the rest of the Malaysian line-up began to collapse.

Bermuda's Damali Bell and Winnipeg's Trevor Manoosingh both took three wickets each as Malaysia collapsed to 124/7, but Muhammad Hazim led a late order recovery with an unbeaten 19, helped by the 34 extras given away by the Americas, and Malaysia reached their target in the 47th over to win by two wickets.

Today, the Americas will play Pakistan, whilst Malaysia will come up against the Netherlands, who lost yesterday to Pakistan by 230 runs. A win for Malaysia will see them put one foot in the semi-finals.