It was a historic moment as Steve Stolks broke the record of the fastest fifty in Under 19 World Cup history. He achieved this feat against the Scotland team during the final Pool B match at JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom on 27th January 2024.
Chasing down 270 runs to win, Steve Stolks looked in sublime touch putting pressure enough pressure on the Scotland bowlers. The hard-hitting batter took Qasim Akram to the cleaners with some big hitting smashing him for 34 runs in an over including 5 sixes and 1 boundary that kept Scotland bowlers under immense pressure. He just made the batting look easy reaching fifty off just 13 deliveries.
He continued to pile on the pressure on the Scotland bowlers hitting sixes at regular intervals. Stolks was eventually dismissed for a brilliant 86 off 37 deliveries with 7 fours and 8 sixes with a stunning strike rate of 232.43. Stolks and Pretorius added 114 runs for the opening wicket in 9 overs. Despite losing 3 quick wickets, South Africa Marais and Teeger chased down the target of 270 runs easily in just 27 overs.
South Africa won the match by 7 wickets with 23 overs to spare. With this win, South Africa moved to the top of the points table with 4 points and went into the Super Six stage.
Batters To Score Fastest Fifty In Under 19 World Cup History
Before this brilliance, four other batters have produced the magic of scoring the fastest fifty in Under 19 World Cup history. Rishabh Pant held the previous record with a half-century off 18 deliveries against Nepal in the 2016 edition held in Bangladesh.
West Indies Alcindo Holder showed his class with fifty off 19 balls against Scotland in the 2002 edition of the Under 19 World Cup played in New Zealand. Star Indian batter Suresh Raina achieved the milestone with a half-century off 19 deliveries against Scotland during the 2004 Under 19 World Cup played in Bangladesh.
Yuvraj Singh is last on the list with fifty off 20 balls against Australia in the 2000 edition played in Sri Lanka.
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