Teen Smashes England U19 Cricket Record With 191 Runs

Ben Mayes proved age is just a number when he smashed 191 runs for England's Under-19 team in Harare, setting a new national record that showcases the incredible talent emerging in cricket.

The 18-year-old Hampshire player stepped up to bat at number three and delivered a performance for the ages. His blistering 117-ball knock included 18 fours and eight sixes, electrifying the match against Scotland.

Mayes came tantalizingly close to breaking the overall tournament record of 192 runs, set just four days earlier by Sri Lanka's Viran Chamuditha. Instead, he secured his place in England's history books by surpassing Dan Lawrence's previous national record of 174 runs from 2016.

The young star didn't do it alone. Lancashire's Joe Moores, nephew of former England coach Peter Moores, contributed a powerful 81 runs off 65 balls. Together, they built a second-wicket partnership of 188 runs that propelled England to victory.

England's final score of 404-6 marked another milestone. The team passed 400 runs for the first time in their history, achieving the seventh-highest score ever recorded in the tournament.

Why This Inspires

Stories like Mayes's remind us that young people are capable of extraordinary achievements when given the opportunity to shine. At just 18, he's already played three times in the T20 Blast for Hampshire and now holds a national record that will inspire countless young cricketers across England.

His performance represents more than personal glory. It signals a bright future for English cricket, with talented young players ready to carry the torch forward. The fact that he nearly broke the all-time tournament record shows England's youth program is producing world-class athletes.

The support from teammates like Moores also highlights how success builds on collaboration and mutual encouragement. These young players are learning not just how to compete, but how to lift each other up.

Ben Mayes just showed the world what the next generation of cricket looks like, and it's absolutely thrilling.