Stats: Afghanistan's Mujeeb Zadran sets new record in Youth ODIs

Afghanistan Under-19 side continued to dominate the Bangladesh Under-19 side in their Youth ODI series in Bangladesh. The Afghan side now leads the 5-match series 2-1 after defeating the home team by 45 runs in the 4th game. The visiting team, after being put into bat, were bowled out for just 133 runs. However, they came back strong with Mujeeb Zadran producing one of the best bowling performances ever. The Afghan pacer returned figures of 9.3-2-19-7 to bowl Bangladesh U19s out for just 88 runs.

Nayeem Hasan’s 5/38 was instrumental in bowling the Afghanistan U19s out to a low total as Nisar Wahdat being the major contributor with the bat. He played a 53-run knock. Mujeeb’s opening spell in which he picked five wickets reduced Bangladesh to 11/6. Mahidul Islam Ankon and Nayeem Hasan put on a 75-run stand for the 7th wicket before Mujeeb returned to add two more to his wickets column and end the home side’ chase.

His bowling figures of 7/19 are the joint 2nd best bowling figures in Youth ODI history along with Sri Lankan mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis who recorded in 2002. Mendis figures were then best in Youth ODI cricket before Irfan Pathan picked up nine wickets for 16 runs in U19 Asia Cup in the following year.

Best bowling figures in Youth ODI cricket:

Mujeeb Zadran has bagged 15 wickets in this series so far which is the joint-most for any player in a bilateral Youth ODI series. Mujeeb picked up a 4-fer in the first ODI and three wickets in the 2nd game.

The 134-run target is the lowest Bangladesh have failed to chase in a complete 50-over game in this format. The previous lowest total was 159 against India in 2015 at Kolkata. Overall, the 134-run target Bangladesh failed to chase is the 6th lowest in Youth ODIs for any team in a 50-over encounter.

Lowest targets teams failed to chase in a 50-over game in Youth ODI cricket:

(Stats as on October 4, 2017)