LONDON — Fourteen-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi rewrote the record books with a blistering 52-ball century to power India to a thrilling victory over England in the Under-19 ODI series opener, overshadowing a magnificent 112 by England's Harry Flintoff, son of legendary all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.
The match at Trent Bridge will be remembered as a generational clash of teenage brilliance, with Suryavanshi's breathtaking innings - the fastest century in youth ODI history - trumping Flintoff's composed 112 off 98 balls. "I just wanted to express myself," the soft-spoken Suryavanshi told reporters after being named Player of the Match. "When I saw Flintoff's century, I knew we needed something special."
Record-breaking assault
Suryavanshi came to the crease with India struggling at 45/2 in the 9th over, chasing England's competitive 298/7. What followed was an unprecedented display of power-hitting from the teenager, who:
- Reached 50 off just 23 balls
- Hit 11 sixes and 8 fours
- Scored 84 runs in boundaries alone
- Broke Pakistan's Haider Ali's previous record (60-ball century)
The right-hander's century came up in the 31st over, sending the traveling Indian fans into raptures. Former England captain Nasser Hussain, commentating for Sky Sports, remarked: "This is the most destructive innings I've ever seen at this level. The boy's got everything - technique, power, and remarkable composure."
Flintoff's fighting century
Earlier in the day, Harry Flintoff had anchored England's innings with a mature 112, showing glimpses of his father's famous fighting spirit. The 17-year-old's innings featured:
- 14 boundaries and 2 sixes
- A 134-run partnership with Noah Thain (67)
- Particular dominance against spin, scoring at 8.2 runs per over
Flintoff senior, watching from the stands, was seen applauding enthusiastically when his son reached three figures. "Proud beyond words," the 2005 Ashes hero later tweeted. "But today belongs to that young Indian lad - what an incredible talent."
Tactical masterstroke
India's coach Kanitkar revealed the team had specifically prepared Suryavanshi for this scenario. "We knew England's middle-over bowling could be vulnerable, so we had Vaibhav practicing 50-ball centuries in the nets," he explained. The gamble paid off spectacularly as Suryavanshi targeted England's spinners, particularly left-armer Charlie Barnard, whom he hit for 28 runs in one over.
Turning point
The match turned decisively in the 28th over when Suryavanshi, then on 78, was dropped by England captain Luc Benkenstein at mid-wicket. The teenager made them pay dearly, smashing 34 runs off his next 10 balls to bring up his century and effectively seal the game.
Reactions and records
The cricket world erupted in praise for both young stars:
- Virat Kohli tweeted: "Remember the name - Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Special talent!"
- ECB performance director Mo Bobat called it "the best U19 game I've witnessed"
- Suryavanshi now holds records for fastest 50 and 100 in youth ODIs
Former England spinner Graeme Swann noted on BBC Test Match Special: "What's scary is that both these lads are years away from their prime. Today we might have seen two future Test captains in action."
Looking ahead
With four matches remaining in the series, England coach Mike Yardy promised a response: "We'll analyze Suryavanshi's weaknesses, but credit where it's due - that was one of the great innings." Meanwhile, the BCCI has reportedly fast-tracked Suryavanshi into their Emerging Players program despite his young age.
As cricket fans worldwide marvel at this new generation of talent, one thing is certain - the future of international cricket appears in remarkably gifted hands. The second ODI at Lord's on Thursday is already sold out, with organizers adding temporary seating to meet unprecedented demand.