India took on Zimbabwe in the Super Six stage of the ICC Under-19 World Cup on Tuesday, with Zimbabwe opting to bowl first after winning the toss at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

At the nine-over mark, India were cruising at 97 for 1, with Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre holding firm at the crease. Opener Aaron George was the lone casualty, departing for 23.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi once again stole the spotlight with a blistering knock. The youngster brought up his half-century off just 24 balls, smashing four sixes and four boundaries. The effort stands as the third-fastest fifty in Under-19 World Cup history and underlined his growing reputation as one of the tournament’s standout batters.

The innings also carried significant personal milestones. Suryavanshi has now accumulated 1,087 runs in his youth ODI career and is closing in on India captain Shubman Gill’s record tally of 1,149 runs. A score of 62 in this match would see him surpass Gill and set a new benchmark.

However, Suryavanshi was eventually dismissed in the 12th over, holing out to mid-off while attempting to clear the infield, with Tatenda Chimugoro providing the breakthrough.

This was Suryavanshi’s second half-century of the ongoing Under-19 World Cup, following his 72 against Bangladesh. He currently stands as India’s leading run-scorer in the competition, amassing 166 runs at an average of 41.50 and an impressive strike rate of 133.87. Further cementing his fine form as he continues to deliver consistent performances on the global stage.