In a breathtaking display of youthful talent at the Under-19 World Cup in Harare, England’s Ben Mays etched his name into the tournament’s lore with a blistering 191-run knock against Scotland. Falling agonizingly short of a historic record by just two runs, Mays nonetheless became the fastest English centurion in U19 history, reaching three figures off a mere 65 balls.
Batting first after losing the toss, England posted a mammoth 404 for 6 in their allotted overs at Takashinga Sports Club. The innings kicked off with an early setback, losing Ben Dawkins for 5 with the score on 12. But Mays, stepping up alongside Joseph Moore, steadied the ship with a second-wicket partnership of 188 runs off 129 balls, propelling the team past 200.
Moore departed for a brisk 81 off 65 balls, laced with 4 sixes and 5 fours. Mays, anchoring one end, then built crucial stands: 47 runs with captain Thomas Rev (22) and 84 with Caleb Faulkner (32) for the fourth wicket. A quick 23-run alliance with Ralfy Albert (13) followed before Mays himself fell after facing 117 balls, smashing 18 fours and 8 sixes.
The lower order fired too, with Farhan Ahmad (15*) and Sebastian Morgan (24*) unbeaten, adding an unbroken 40 to push England beyond 400. Scotland’s Jake Woodhouse claimed 3 wickets, Finley Jones took 2, and Max Chaplin snared 1.
Mays’ effort tied Hasitha Boyagoda’s 2018 mark of 191 against Kenya but missed Viran Chamuditha’s 192 versus Japan by a heartbreaking margin. This heroic innings not only showcased Mays’ potential but also highlighted England’s batting depth in the tournament.