Young Pakistan Under-19 team opener Shahzaib Khan scripted history at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on December 2 with second consecutive century in Under-19 Asia Cup. Shahzaib who scored a record-breaking 159 against India in their campaign opener, became the sixth Pakistan batter to score 1,000 or more runs at Under-19 level in One-Day cricket.
Shahzaib enters elite list
Shahzaib has 1,096 runs from 23 innings at an average of 52.19 including three centuries and eight fifties. The top spot is occupied by Sami Islam who has 1,695 runs from 40 games. Islam is followed by Ahmed Shehzad (1,318 runs), Babar Azam (1,271 runs), Rohail Nazir (1,227 runs) and Imam-ul-Haq (1,106 runs). He is expected to go past Imam when Pakistan take on Japan on December 4. If Pakistan reach the final, he may go past Babar and Shehzad as well.
Shahzaib's fine form
Shahzaib has been in stellar form of late. This is his fifth consecutive fifty-plus score. He scored two half-centuries against Afghanistan and another against UAE last month.
Shahzaib, Riazullah's centuries help Pakistan dominate UAE
On December 2, UAE skipper Aayan Afzal Khan won the toss and opted to bat first. Usman Khan and Shahzaib shared a 94-run opening partnership from 117 balls. Shahzaib reached his fifty from 63 balls. He continued to play the anchor role in the middle overs. In the 40th over, he reached three figures from 118 balls. He accelerated after reaching his century.
However, he could not score another 150 as Noorullah Ayobi got his wicket in the 46th over. The opener scored 132 runs from 136 balls featuring 11 fours and six sixes. He shared a 183-run partnership for the second wicket with Mohammad Riazullah who went on to score 106 runs from 91 balls. Centuries from top-order batters and Faham-ul-Haq's unbeaten 13-ball 20 helped Pakistan post 314/3 on the board.
