In the Under-19 One Day World Cup 2026 tournament, young players' aggressive batting is leading to a spree of records. In the match between England and Scotland, batting first, England scored 404 runs in 50 overs and set a huge target of 405 runs for Scotland. A significant contribution to this massive score was made by England's young opener Ben Mays. He played a blistering innings of 191 runs off 117 balls, which included 8 sixes and 18 fours. He was dismissed just 9 runs short of a double century, caught by Thomas Knight off Max Chaplin's bowling.
This century set a record for Ben Mays as the fastest century for England in the Under-19 One Day World Cup. The right-handed batsman completed the century in just 65 balls and became the highest run-scorer for England in this tournament. In three matches of the tournament, he scored 288 runs, including one century and two half-centuries. With a strike rate of over 100 and 12 sixes, Mays is considered the future of England cricket.
Ben Mays, who has been playing for Hampshire since the age of 14, also developed from Totton and Eling Cricket Club. In July, he got his first professional contract and Hampshire contracted him until 2027. In his very first professional match, Mays scored a half-century with 74 runs off 55 balls and is now aiming for the T20 World Cup, having performed brilliantly in the World Cup.
Speaking after the match, Ben Mays said, "The team recognized where to score runs and targeted the bowlers. Today the entire team performed excellently, not just me. We took advantage of the strong wind and small boundaries. This is very good." England's victorious campaign has sparked discussions in the tournament, and young stars like Ben Mays have heightened the excitement of cricket fans.