Teen batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi created history by smashing the fastest fifty ever recorded in List A cricket during the tri-series final between India A and Sri Lanka A in Dambulla on Sunday.
The 15-year-old reached his half-century in just 11 balls, breaking the previous world record of 12 balls held by Sri Lankan batter Kaushalya Weeratane. The explosive innings came after India A were asked to bat first at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium.
Opening the innings alongside Priyansh Arya, Sooryavanshi launched a fierce attack on the Sri Lanka A bowlers from the outset. He hammered three sixes and a four in one over against pacer Mohammed Shiraz before smashing two sixes and two fours in the next over off Dulaj Samuditha to race to the landmark.
The young left-hander surpassed the long-standing List A record and also eclipsed the fastest fifty by an Indian in the format, previously held by Sarfaraz Khan, who had scored a 15-ball fifty in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Sooryavanshi eventually fell just short of a century, scoring a breathtaking 94 off only 29 deliveries. His innings included 10 fours and eight sixes, helping India A dominate the final and putting the Sri Lanka A bowling attack under immense pressure.
The knock marked a remarkable comeback for the youngster after a series of low scores earlier in the tournament and further strengthened his reputation as one of India’s most exciting young batting talents