Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played a breathtaking innings of 94 off just 29 balls, including the fastest half-century in List A cricket history, to propel India A to a formidable 377/9 against Sri Lanka A in the tri-series final at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Sunday.
Sooryavanshi's record-breaking blitz
Asked to bat first, India A got off to a flying start as the 15-year-old from Samastipur, Bihar, reached his fifty in just 11 deliveries, breaking the 21-year-old record held by Sri Lankan Kaushalya Weeraratne, who had taken 12 balls in 2005. Sooryavanshi's first 11 balls read: 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 0, 6, 4, 4, 6, 6, as he tore into the Sri Lankan attack with a mix of brute force and impeccable timing.
He reached the landmark with successive sixes straight down the ground off pacer Dulaj Samuditha. The left-hander initially targeted the leg side against seamers, then effortlessly opened up the off side after Sri Lanka A placed an additional fielder on the on side. Three effortless sixes over extra cover highlighted his bat speed, balance, and fearlessness.
Partnership and early wickets
Sooryanshi added 132 runs for the opening wicket with Priyansh Arya (39), and looked set for the fastest List A century before spinner Sahan Arachchige ended his fireworks by having him caught at mid-off in the ninth over. Arya fell an over later, giving Sri Lanka A a foothold back into the contest.
Tilak Varma steadies the innings
Skipper Tilak Varma played a composed innings of 67 off 90 balls, anchoring the middle overs after the early dismissals. He added 63 runs for the third wicket with Ruturaj Gaikwad (40), but the flow of boundaries dried up considerably as Sri Lanka A clawed back. Wickets fell at regular intervals as India A attempted to accelerate.
Late flourish pushes India past 350
Anukul Roy (39 off 15) and Vipraj Nigam (27 off 20) provided a late burst, lifting India beyond the 350-run mark and helping them post 377/9. Despite the middle-order slowdown, Sooryavanshi's record-breaking knock remained the highlight of the innings.
