Fifteen-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made a spectacular entrance on the grand stage during the Tri-Nation Series final against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla on Sunday. The India A opener set a new record for the fastest fifty in List A cricket history, reaching this incredible milestone in just 11 balls – shattering a record that had stood for 20 years. Right from the first ball, Sooryavanshi was in attack mode, effortlessly racking up boundaries and sixes. His remarkable sequence of 4, 6, 6, 0, 6, 4, 4, 6, and 6 propelled him to the landmark in jaw-dropping style. India A raced to 48 without losing a wicket in three overs, then 64 in four, and an astonishing 88 in under five. The run rate soared past 18 an over, at one point suggesting a mind-boggling total of over 900, giving India a dream start in this crucial title match.
But the teenager didn’t stop there; he continued to dominate well past his fifty. He smashed 94 runs off just 29 balls, with 10 fours and eight sixes, boasting a strike rate of 324.13. Sooryavanshi seemed poised to break the record for the fastest List A hundred before Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige finally got him out in the ninth over. By that time, though, he had already turned the tide of the match, putting Sri Lanka under immense pressure right from the get-go.
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Anukul Roy’s Lifts India A to 377/9
After an explosive start from the top order, Anukul Roy stepped up to deliver a game-changing performance. Coming in at 332/7, the left-handed batsman unleashed a whirlwind 39 runs off just 15 balls, boasting a strike rate of 260. He hit one four and four sixes, including three massive hits in the final over against Kugathas Mathulan, which helped India A bounce back after a shaky spell where they lost five wickets for just 51 runs. His late onslaught ensured India finished strong at 377/9 after their 50 overs.
Earlier in the innings, Priyansh Arya played a quickfire knock of 39 from 29 balls, keeping the momentum alive that Sooryavanshi had built. Captain Tilak Varma steadied the ship during the middle overs with a solid 67 off 90 balls, while Ruturaj Gaikwad contributed a reliable 40 from 51 deliveries. Vipraj Nigam also added a handy 27 runs off 20 balls.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka A’s bowlers found it tough to rein in the scoring. Wanuja Sahan was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 2/39, making him the most economical among the main bowlers. Ravindu Fernando took 2/72, while Mathulan ended with 2/82 in his seven overs. Dulaj Samuditha managed 1/54, and both Mohamed Shiraz and captain Arachchige claimed a wicket each. Despite these breakthroughs, India A’s aggressive batting left Sri Lanka facing a daunting target of 378 runs.
