Fifteen-year-old Pakistan left-arm wrist spinner Mohammad Huzaifa took a record five-for during his team’s dominant win against Japan in the 2024 Under-19 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Stadium yesterday (December 5).
Pakistan secured their third consecutive victory by beating Japan by 180 runs. Huzaifa was the star of the show, picking up five out of the last six wickets in his exceptional spell of 6.3-3-8-5 as Japan folded for 63 in response to Pakistan’s 243-6. Pakistan will now play Bangladesh in the semi-final on Friday.
Going into the match, Pakistan made four changes to the side that played against UAE. They didn’t have the best of starts, getting reduced to 34-2 after 10 overs. By the halfway stage, they lost half of their side for 100 runs.
Shahzaib Khan, who scored hundreds in the first two matches, including a record 159 against arch-rivals India, came to his team’s rescue in an 82-run stand for the sixth wicket with Mohammad Riazullah. Shahzaib was dismissed for 45 off 69 balls in the 44th over. Riazullah (66 not out) and Ahmed Hussain added another 61-run partnership off 37 balls to take Pakistan to a competitive total.
Barring opener Nihar Parmar (25) no other Japan batter reached a double-digit score chasing 243. Mohammad Ahmed (2-9), Ahmed Hussain (2-17) and Faham-ul-Haq (1-14) were also amongst the wickets for Pakistan.
Signing the ball and reflections on a brilliant spell ☄️✍️
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 4, 2024
Hear from Mohammad Huzaifa after his five-wicket haul against Japan U19 ⚡#PAKvJAP | #PakistanFutureStars | #ACCMensU19AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/BDLoQzmdxO
Best bowling performance for Pakistan in Under-19 ODIs
Shaheen Afridi holds the record for having the best U19 ODI figures among Pakistan bowlers. His 6-15 came against Ireland in the 2018 U19 World Cup. Apart from the left-arm pacer, as many as five Pakistan players have taken a six-wicket haul in the format.
Huzaifa's measly spell of 5-8 are the eighth-best figures on the list. He trails seventh-ranked Muhammad Shahzad's 5-7 against Papua New Guinea in the 2022 U19 World Cup by a slight margin. However, no other Pakistan spinner has registered better figures than Huzaifa in an U19 ODI this century.
Among other active cricketers, Mohammad Wasim took 5-12 against Scotland in the 2020 edition, earning him the ninth spot.
Image credit: Pakistan Cricket/X
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