NEW DELHI: Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced a breathtaking display of power-hitting to script a memorable win for India Under-19, smashing 68 off just 24 balls and powering his side to an eight-wicket victory over South Africa Under-19 in Benoni on Monday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Chasing a target of 246 at Willowmoore Park, the 14-year-old opener blasted a stunning 19-ball fifty, second only to Rishabh Pant’s 18-ball effort set during the 2016 Under-19 World Cup against Nepal in Dhaka. Although rain later intervened and revised India’s target to 174 from 27 overs under the DLS method, Sooryavanshi’s explosive start had already tilted the contest decisively in the visitors’ favour.
Leading from the front, the India U-19 skipper was eventually dismissed for a sensational 68 off just 24 balls, an innings studded with 10 sixes and one four. His fearless knock ensured India chased down the revised target in just 23.3 overs, winning with 21 balls to spare and sealing the three-match series 2-0, with one game still to play.Sooryavanshi’s innings added another chapter to his growing reputation. The prodigious talent already holds the record for the fastest Under-19 hundred, having blasted a 52-ball century against England in Worcester last year. With the Under-19 World Cup set to begin on January 15 in Zimbabwe and Namibia, the timing of his form surge could not be better for India.
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Earlier, South Africa Under-19, after opting to bat, were bowled out for 245 in 49.3 overs. Jason Rowles anchored the innings with a fine 114 off 113 balls, sharing a 97-run stand with Daniel Bosman (31), but the hosts struggled to maintain momentum thereafter.India’s bowlers kept things in check, led by Kishan Singh’s 4/46, while RS Ambrish chipped in with two wickets. In reply, India’s openers came out all guns blazing, racing to 50 in just over four overs before Sooryavanshi’s blitz effectively ended the contest.
