Vaibhav Suryavanshi was at his imperious best while smashing a 171 off 95 balls, powering India to a mammoth 234-run win over hosts UAE in the inaugural match of the U19 Asia Cup on Friday. The 14-year-old from Samastipur, Bihar, unleashed a stunning display of batting, hitting 14 sixes — the most by any batter in a single innings in the U19 level — en route to his breathtaking innings.
Half-centuries from Vihaan Malhotra (69) and Aaron George (69) further bolstered India’s charge as they piled up 433 for 6 in 50 overs. The 400-plus total is India’s highest-ever in U19 ODIs and is the highest in the U-19 Asia Cup’s history. In reply, the UAE were never in the contest despite fighting fifties from Prithvi Madhu (50) and Uddish Suri (78 not out), as they could only manage 199/7 in their allotted 50 overs.
Suryavanshi’s blistering knock, studded with nine boundaries, is now the second-highest score by an Indian in youth ODIs, behind Ambati Rayudu’s unbeaten 177 against England in 2002 and the ninth-highest score by a batter in a men’s U19 ODI. Sent into bat, the young opener looked a class apart as he pummelled the UAE bowlers into submission, racing to his fifty off just 30 balls and bringing up his hundred in only 56 deliveries.
He then shared a 212-run stand with George to completely flatten the hosts’ attack. His fiery innings finally came to an end in the 33rd over when he was bowled by spinner Suri. After his dismissal, the middle-order maintained the tempo, with Vedant Trivedi (38), Abhigyan Kundu (32 not out) and Kanishk Chouhan (28) keeping the runs flowing to take India past the coveted 400-run mark.
Faced with a daunting target, the UAE lost two wickets inside the first four overs, before the quick dismissals of Muhammad Rayan, Ayaan Misbah, and Ahmed Khudadad in the space of nine balls left them tottering at 48 for 5, effectively ending the chase. Suri and Madhu added 85 runs to arrest the slide, but the damage had long been done.
Brief Score:
India 433 for 6 in 50 overs (Vaibhav Suryavanshi 171, Vihaan Malhotra 69, Aaron George 69; Yug Sharma 2/75. UAE 199 for 7 in 50 overs (Uddish Suri 78 not out, Prithvi Madhu 50; Deepesh Devendran 2/21).
