WATCH: Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s 24-ball fifty powers India to U19 Asia Cup 2024 final over Sri Lanka | Cricket News
India’s dashing 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi cracked another quickfire half-century as he led the team to a win over Sri Lanka in the ACCUnder-19 Asia Cup semi-final in Sharjah on Friday.
Chasing a 174-run target, Suryavanshi sped off the blocks like he did in the last group-stage match against the UAE at the same venue.
The left-handed opener zoomed to his half-century in only 24 balls and set up a breezy chase for India. Suryavanshi’s 24-ball fifty is the joint-third quickest Youth ODI half-century an Indian batter, following Rishabh Pant (2015/16), Tilak Varma (2019) and Ayush Badoni (2018/19).
Vaibhav brings up his 5️⃣0️⃣ in style 😎
Some way to celebrate back-to-back classy knocks as he pushes #TeamIndia closer to the #ACCMensU19AsiaCup Final 🔥
Watch #SLvIND Semi-Final, LIVE NOW on #SonyLIV 📲 pic.twitter.com/XqYyBQamSq
— Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) December 6, 2024
Suryavanshi reached his fifty off a maximum before falling on 67 from 36 deliveries on the back of six fours and five sixes. Skipper Mohamed Amaan and Karthikeya KP then closed down the chase in only the 22nd over with six wickets to spare.
In the previous innings in Sharjah, Suryavanshi powered India off to a similar start in a 138-run chase against UAE. Suryavanshi smashed the first ball of his innings for a six and belted four more sixes within the next nine deliveries he faced at the crease. He waltzed to his fifty in only 32 balls and finished unbeaten on 76 as India romped to a massive 10-wicket victory.
Suryavanshi has experienced a sensational fortnight, where he went from making his T20 debut for Bihar in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to becoming a Rs 1.1 crore signing of the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction in Jeddah. The bid made Suryavanshi the youngest cricketer ever to be auctioned in IPL hory.
India will face Bangladesh in the Under-19 Asia Cup final in Dubai on Sunday.
Fastest Youth ODI fifties for India
18 balls – Rishabh Pant – India Under-19s v Nepal Under-19s – 2015/1623 balls – Tilak Varma – India Under-19s v England Under-19s – 201924 balls – Vaibhav Suryavanshi – India Under-19s v Sri Lanka Under-19s – 2024*24 balls – Ayush Badoni – India Under-19s v Sri Lanka Under-19s – 2018/19
