Karachi, 15 October 2023: The solitary four-day match between Sri Lanka U19 and Pakistan U19 commenced today at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi. After winning the toss, Saad Baig elected to bat first against the visiting side in the one-off four-dayer. The hosts posted 319 runs in 90 overs and lost one wicket in the process.
Openers Shahzaib Khan and Azan Awais provided Pakistan Under-19 with an excellent start, amassing 228 runs for the first wicket. Azan scored 104 runs from 221 balls, including seven boundaries before getting out. He was dismissed by left-arm spinner Viswha Lahiru, the only wicket-taker for the bowling side.
Shahzaib, while displaying superb batting throughout the day, remained not out at stumps. He scored 152 from 263 balls, with his innings including 12 boundaries and one six. This is Shahzaib’s second century in this format in the year as the opener also produced a remarkable knock during the tour of Bangladesh where he scored 174 runs (323b, 25x4s, 4x6s) in the solitary four-day match.
Saad also played a captain’s innings and scored an unbeaten half-century. He made an undefeated 56 runs from 58 balls with the help of four boundaries and one six. These two players have so far added 91 runs for the second wicket.
Pakistan will look to bank on the solid foundation provided by the top-order to post a convincing first-innings total when they resume batting tomorrow.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan U19 (1st innings) 319-1 in 90 overs (Shahzaib Khan 152 not out, Azan Awais 104, Saad Baig 56 not out; Viswha Lahiru 1-52)
