EAST LONDON: Shahzaib Khan’s magnificent century, followed by Ubaid Shah’s four-fer propelled Pakistan to start their ICC U19 World Cup 2024 campaign with a crushing 181-run victory over Afghanistan here on Saturday.
Pakistan captain Saad Baig’s decision to bat first paid dividends for the former champions as the national team piled up a commendable total of 284/9 on the board at the back of Shahzaib’s 106.
However, the Green Shirts had a contrasting start to their innings as they were 48/2 in 12.3 overs.
Skipper Saad then joined Shahzaib in the middle and the duo anchored the innings with a sensible partnership.
They added 92 runs for the third wicket with both amassing their half-centuries. But Saad failed to stretch his counterattacking knock and perished in the 28th over.
He scored a brisk 55 off just 52 deliveries, laced up with three boundaries and four sixes.
Pakistan U19 then endured another setback when Ahmed Hussain (8) walked back to the pavilion with 151 runs on the board in 30.1 overs.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s mainstay Shahzaib Khan was then involved in yet another vital partnership when he put together 84 runs for the fifth wicket with Riaz Ullah, who scored 46 off 49 before falling in the 45th over.
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Shahzaib stood his ground firm and kept the scoreboard ticking with Ubaid Shah (22 off 12) and finally brought up his century in the 48th over.
He finally returned to the dugout in the penultimate over after top-scoring for Pakistan with 106 off 126 deliveries with the help of 10 boundaries and three sixes.
For Afghanistan U19, Khalil Ahmed led the way with four wickets, followed by Bashir Ahmad with two while AM Ghazanfar and Naseer Khan Maroofkhil made one scalp each.
In return, Pakistan pacers, led by Ubaid Shah, dismantled Afghanistan’s batting unit and booked them on a paltry 103.
Ubaid picked up four wickets in his seven overs and leaked away just 26 runs while Muhammad Zeeshan picked 3/17 in his five.
Ahmed Hussain and Amir Hassan made one scalp each for Pakistan.
Wicketkeeper batter Numan Shah (26) remained the top-scorer for Afghanistan in dismal show with the bat while Sohail Khan Zurmati and Rahimullah Zurmati – 20 each – were the other notable run-getters.
Pakistan will now lock horns with Nepal on January 24 in their second ICC U19 World Cup 2024 fixture.
READ: Arafat Minhas believes Pakistan ‘all boxes ticked’ for U19 World Cup
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