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The foundation to a strong, reliable and hopefully long international career, whether in red ball or white ball cricket is often made in the youth or the Under-19 stage, to state specifically. It is here where amazing talents, whether shining in spin, medium pace or pure willow work, rises to the fore and forms a first impression over the minds of the fans and the sport's followers on the global stage. Which is why noted tournaments such as a tri-series or an Under-19 World Cup become so much more important than just about any other or average contest. And it now appears that a rising and potential candidate for representing his national side in the times to come has stamped his first proper impression on the global canvas of cricket.
There's a damn fine young fellow who happens to have hit the fastest and thus far, the only double century struck in Under-19 ODI contests. So let us take a moment to pause in order to appreciate the stellar batting effort and also pay heed to the others before this talented batter who scored mighty and mega tons in the Under-19 ODI stage.
Jorich Van Schalkwyk
Every now and again, there rises a proper, domineering and scintillating South African talent that raises eyebrows, moves fans to the point of admiration and just enthralls the cricketing world. Jorich Van Schalkwyk is one among the noted and current rising names, who just hours ago made a fine world record by way of scoring a great double century in a legal Under-19 ODI contest.
In scoring a timely and brisk 215 off just 153-odd deliveries against Zimbabwe, the rising Protea talent became not just the fastest but the first ever batter to score an Under-19 ODI double century.
Hasitha Boyagoda
The 1998-born Sri Lankan batter, known for his destructive ways of batting, had scored a mighty and majestic 191, a fiery knock that came in the year 2018. As a result of the Kandy-born batter's excellence with the willow, the Sri Lankan Under-19 team had achieved a highest team score of 414, a mighty task in front of the aggrieved Kenya.
But on that occasion, so tall was the challenge in front of Kenya that the team bundled out quickly, thus conceding a 311-run defeat. As on date, Boyagoda, who is 26, is yet to break into the Sri Lankan national team.
Jacob Bhula
In the 2017-18 cricket season, New Zealand's attacking batter Jacob Bhula smashed a career best youth-ODI individual score of 180. He scored that off just 144-odd deliveries during a 200-minute stay at the wicket against the Kenyan team in Christchurch.
The 1999-born New Zealand cricketer, who hails from Wellington is all of 25 and could possibly make it to the BlackCaps unit. He has played as on date, 12 first-class and 32 List-A games and still holds the record for the fastest one-day score for NZ in an Under-19 contest.
Ambati Rayudu
Back in the 2002 cricket season, India's Ambati Rayudu, who would eventually in his career, play white-ball cricket for the national team, scored a fluent and unbeaten 177. This vital Under-19 score came against England at a time where none of India's contemporary stars whether Bumrah, Gill, Pant or KL Rahul had even made their debuts for the national side.
Unfortunately, despite plenty of batting talent, Rayudu couldn't take his India journey to the longer mile that he would have hoped to travel and could feature in 61 national appearances for his country.
FAQs
What was Jorich Van Schalkwyk's score in that double ton knock?
In a tri-series opener against Zimbabwe, Jorich Van Schalkwyk scored 215 off 153 deliveries.
Who before the young South African held the record for the highest score in Under-19 ODI's?
The record was previously held by Sri Lanka's Hasitha Boyagoda, who had hit a promising 191.
