Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first in the opening encounter of both teams at the 2024 U19 Asia Cup. Along with opening partner Usman Khan, Shahzaib took Pakistan off to a slow but steady start, the team reaching 50 in the 14th over.

The initiation of Mohamed Enaan, the leg spinner, in the 15th over, opened the floodgates for Shahzaib. The left-hander pulled Enaan for two sixes over mid-wicket in the space of five balls. He reached his 50 in the 22nd over, off his 65th ball, as the pair took Pakistan across 100.

Shahzaib then hit Enaan for two back-to-back sixes in the 28th over to move from 70 to 82. India picked a couple of wickets, but neither Shahzaib’s, as the opener reached his hundred in the 37th over, facing his 107th delivery. He hit Hardik Raj for three sixes in the 43rd over, before reaching his 150 in the 48th. Shahzaib was finally dismissed in the last over of the innings for 159 off 146 balls, in an innings that had five fours and as many as ten sixes.

Also read: Mohammed Enaan: The India U19 leg-spinner who impressed Saqlain Mushtaq and bamboozled Australia

Highest Youth ODI score by a Pakistani

Shahzaib's knock was only the second 150-plus score by a Pakistan batter in U19 ODIs, and the 11th highest individual score by an opener in the format.

Overall, it is the 14th highest individual score across all Youth ODIs, falling just one short of 160 – scored by both Shubman Gill (against England in 2017) and Mayank Agarwal (against Australia in 2009). The world record belongs to Sri Lanka's Hasitha Boyagoda, who plundered 191 off 152 balls against Kenya U19 in 2018.

Shahzaib's 159 is also the highest score made against the India U19 team in Youth ODIs, surpassing Sami Aslam's 134 in 2012.

Full list: Highest individual scores in U19 ODIs