Stats: Fastest fifty in Youth Tests

India Under-19 extended their lead over the home team England Under-19 in the first of the 2-match Test series at Chesterfield. India posted a huge total of 519 in their first innings and bundled out the England U19s to a total of 195 and bagged a 323-run lead. India U19 decided to bat again but lost wickets in the process attempting to gather quick runs despite Prithvi Shaw’s 69; his 2nd fifty in the game.

Riyan Parag, who was batting on 9 off 16 balls when Prithvi departed with the scoreboard reflecting 118/5, decided to go for the big shots as he hit 3 fours and a six in Henry Brookes’s over. He struck two sixes in the following over by Amar Virdi and eventually completed his half century off just 33 balls but got out on the very next ball in Virdi’s bowling. Riyan hit 4 fours and 4 sixes in his 50-run knock which came in just 34 balls to power his side’s total to 173/6 after which they declared the innings to set a 497-run target in front of England U19s.

Among the games for which the data is recorded, Riyan’s 33-ball fifty stands at No.2 in the fastest fifties in Youth Test cricket. The fastest fifty is in the name of the current Indian captain Virat Kohli who took 32 balls for his fifty against Sri Lanka in 2007. Kohli remained unbeaten on 94 in that innings off just 54 balls.

There are only two possible instances in Youth Test cricket where players have scored fifties in 33 or fewer balls. England all-rounder Moeen Ali scored an unbeaten 100 in just 56 balls vs Sri Lanka in 2005 and Sri Lanka Kusal Perera scored 71* off 45 against Bangladesh in 2007.

Fastest fifties in Youth Test cricket:

(Stats as on July 25, 2017)