Zimbabwe opener Brian Bennett etched his name into the record books with a scintillating maiden ODI hundred during the first of the three-match series against Ireland in Harare on Friday (February 14).
After being asked to bat first, Zimbabwe’s charge was led by Bennett, who brought up his maiden century in the format, a 163-ball 169. Bennett, 21, smashed the Ireland bowlers for 20 fours and three sixes before being dismissed in the last over.
His crucial partnership of 136 runs with captain Craig Ervine (66) was the building block of Zimbabwe’s innings, which ended at 299-5 after 50 overs.
Bennet's hundred is the fifth-highest score in men's ODIs for Zimbabwe. Charles Coventry (194 not out v Bangladesh, 2009), Hamilton Masakadza (178 not out v Kenya, 2009), Sean Williams (174 v USA, 2023) and Craig Wishart (172 not out v Namibia, 2003) are the batters ahead of him.
That's not the only list Bennet has broken into as he is now one of the youngest players with a 150 in men's ODIs.
Sri Lanka claimed the ODI series against Australia 2-0 after a clinical win today.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 14, 2025
Australia's 174-run defeat is their biggest against any Asian opposition.
Full scorecard: https://t.co/FPUWbfT1Ml pic.twitter.com/4hG0bbhGUx
Youngest batters to hit a 150 in men's ODIs: full list
At 21 years 96 days, Bennett became the fourth-youngest to score a 150 in ODIs. He surpassed Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored 151 against Pakistan in Hambantota in 2023. Gurbaz's opening partner Ibrahim Zadran occupies the third spot for scoring 162 against Sri Lanka in 2022 at the age of 21 years and 96 days. Coincidentally Ireland's white-ball captain Paul Stirling heads the overall list for his 177 against Canada in 2010.
Among other prominent names in the top 10, Bennett leapfrogged Chris Gayle (21 years 328 days) at sixth, Shubman Gill (23 years 132 days) at eighth, Virat Kohli (23 years 134 days) at ninth and Imam-ul-Haq (23 years 143 days) at tenth. Notably, Gayle is also the oldest to achieve the feat, having smashed 162 against England in 2019 at the age of 39 years and 159 days.
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