The 23-year-old is considered one of the most exciting young batting prospects in world cricket, and has made his South Africa debuts in all three formats. He earned an IPL deal before his international bow, a rarity for any cricketer, and has excellent stats in both List A and T20 cricket, with an average above 45 and a strike rate above 90 in the former and an average of 28 and strike rate of 151 in the latter.

While he made his Test debut in the infamous second Test against India earlier this year, the shortest completed Test of all time, before this week, his first-class record was decent but less imposing, with four hundreds from 17 games but an average below 40. In the space of one knock, he has boosted his average above 50.

Stubbs came in with his side in trouble, the score reading 20-2. Alongside Matthew Breetzke, another South African youngster who has shot to prominence recently, he put on 473, the sixth-highest third-wicket stand in first-class history. Breetzke, who finished third on the SA20 2024 run charts, hit 188, a new first-class best for him, but it was Stubbs who dominated the scoring, mixing drives and flicks with reverse sweeps and scoops.

Breetzke fell with Stubbs still needing 15 for his triple, but he soon reached the landmark in the company of Sinethemba Qeshile.

At the close of day two, with poor weather having affected the game, Warriors had made their way to 517-3.

Watch the best of Tristan Stubbs’ innings below:

Boundaries all around from Stubbs in his knock of 302*(372)

I tried to cram in what I could in the time allowed for this platform

Enjoy

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— Werner (@Werries_) February 22, 2024