Hampshire’s Tom Scriven took two top-order wickets as England won their opening game at the Under-19 World Cup.

The academy all-rounder helped England to an eight-wicket win over Namibia in at the picturesque Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island.

Bowling first change, the West Ilsley-based right-arm seamer took England’s first wicket after the Namibia openers had put on 42 and struck again in his second of three spells to finish with 2-30 off nine overs, one of which was a maiden.

England’s new-ball bowlers – Dillon Pennington and Ethan Bamber – had been unable to make a breakthrough prior to Scriven’s introduction.

Namibia eventually ground it out to 196-9 - a target England polished off in 25 overs and so boost confidence ahead of Wednesday’s tougher looking test with Bangladesh, who have won both their Group C games.

Scriven’s likely batting position is down the order, but that says more of this side’s depth with the bat in hand than it does of his ability.

Similar to when Moeen Ali bats at No.8 for the senior side, no opposition side will be happy to see him walk out with six wickets down.

He is a true all-rounder, lively with the ball in hand – lively enough to pick up three wickets in England’s opening warm-up game against Ireland – and talented enough as a batsman to have scored 288 for the Hampshire Under-17s - a record for Hampshire in age-group cricket.