Glamorgan's Aneurin Donald equals Ravi Shastri's fastest first-class double century

Glamorgan’s Nineteen-year-old batsman Aneurin Donald made an audacious 234 off just 136 balls against Derbyshire, equalling Ravi Shastri’s world record mark for the fastest first-class double hundred. Shastri was playing for Mumbai against Baroda in a West Zone Ranji match and it was the innings in which the Indian all-rounder struck six sixes in an over in Bombay in 1985.

“I am extremely pleased,” said Donald. “It’s nice to get the guys into a strong position first and foremost, but nice to hit them so well and come out with a big score. I’ve been looking for one and finally it came, although I rode my luck at times.”

“It was a good wicket, the bowlers were getting a bit tired and it’s a small ground, so it’s about making the most of it.”

“I knew the Glamorgan highest score was the 309 not out by Steve James, so obviously there’s a good history.”

“It’s a good place to be in the six-hitting zone, you don’t get there too often, you end up not thinking about it too much and it flows.”

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“You don’t get too many days like this and it was nice to make the most of it.”

“I didn’t know about the fastest all-time double-century until I walked off. I would have tried to get it a bit earlier!” Concluded Donald.

Aneurin Donald had come to the crease when the score was 96/3 and left after the score read 437/7. He had built huge partnerships with David Lloyd (91) and Craig Meschede (130) before finally being caught on the long-off boundary by Billy Godleman off Will Davis.

Although he was dropped twice early in his innings, Donald went on to smash the Derbyshire attack in an innings that include 15 sixes and 26 fours. He reached his 100, 150 and finally 200 with sixes. Every Derbyshire player rushed to congratulate Donald as he left the field after scoring 234 off just 136 balls.