Ben Mayes writes himself into cricket's record books
Hampshire teenage starlet Ben Mayes wrote himself into history books by registering the highest individual score by an England batter at the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup after smashing 191 off just 117 balls against Scotland on Wednesday in Harare.
Mayes' score was also the joint second-highest of all-time in U19 World Cup history, equalling Sri Lanka's Hasitha Boyagoda and falling just one short of the world record score of Viran Chamudith, who achieved this record earlier in the tournament against Japan.
England finished their innings with a massive total of 404-6, putting them in a dominant position after a masterclass of power hitting.
Mayes knock led England to register the sixth-highest score in the history of ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup, and the highest in the tournament thus far.
It bettered Dan Lawrence's innings of 174 against Fiji at the 2016 event for the highest ever by an England player at a Men's Under-19 World Cup and Mayes was thrilled to make a strong contribution.
"I just tried to take it a ball at a time. I was really well helped by people chipping in as well. I think it helped, kept me in the moment. No other words for it. It feels amazing (talking about his knock).
"As a team, we've tried to identify areas where we can score best, bowlers we can target. I think the whole team did that well today, not only me." Ben Mayes said after his innings.
Onslaught
Mayes, who sits his A-levels at King Edward VI School in Southampton this summer, came into bat after England had lost Kent's Ben Dawkins early and he wasted no time in taking the attack to the opposition.
Mayes along with Joe Moores began an onslaught that saw them record a 188-run stand in about 22 overs.
Mayes was supported brilliantly by Moores, who scored a quick 81, and their massive partnership effectively took the game away from the opposition.
The 18-year-old Mayes had a lion’s share in the partnership as he continued to dominate the opposition bowlers. In his innings, he smashed 18 boundaries and smashed eight sixes to completely flatten the Scottish attack.
Winchester College raised Seb Morgan hit a quick-fire 25 not out in the closing stages.
England's bowlers were impressive as they dismissed Scotland for just 152 in reply to ensure the side qualified for the Super Six phase of the event in Bulawayo.
Manny Lumsden took 2-17, while Hartley Wintney prospect Ethan Ramsay was 20* at the end of the Scotland innings. His four overs of medium-pace earlier cost
"I think a lot of attention switched today for us because we know if we got a good win against Scotland, it might mean only needing to win one in the Super Sixes to go through (to the semi-finals)," Mayes added.
"So, I think we've put ourselves in a really strong position."
Ben Mayes youth development
Ben Mayes has signed his first professional deal with Hampshire which will see him remain at Utilita Bowl until the end of the 2027 season.
He has been part of the men’s Academy since 2024 and has represented England Men’s U19s numerous times.
The 18-year-old was part of the Academy squad that won the ECB Southern Premier League for the first time in 2024, and last summer scored a century for the Young Hawks against St Cross Symondians at Utilita Bowl.
Mayes, who played England U16 hockey and has a single-figure golf handicap, has been in the Hampshire pathway since the U14s age group and previously played club cricket for Totton and Eling at Southern Gardens.
He made his Academy debut in May 2023, aged just 15 years old. He scored his first half-century for the Academy against Bournemouth in August 2024, where he fell two runs shy of a century.
In his first outing for the Second XI in 2025, Mayes scored 105 against Nottinghamshire and followed it up with a century for the Academy ten days later.
On his debut for England U19s, Mayes scored 30 not out and followed it up with 66 against Ireland U19s. He was then called up to the tour of South Africa, where he made 51 and earned Player of the Match in the first Youth ODI at Western Province.
Mayes' score was also the joint second-highest of all-time in U19 World Cup history, equalling Sri Lanka's Hasitha Boyagoda and falling just one short of the world record score of Viran Chamudith, who achieved this record earlier in the tournament against Japan.
England finished their innings with a massive total of 404-6, putting them in a dominant position after a masterclass of power hitting.
Mayes knock led England to register the sixth-highest score in the history of ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup, and the highest in the tournament thus far.
It bettered Dan Lawrence's innings of 174 against Fiji at the 2016 event for the highest ever by an England player at a Men's Under-19 World Cup and Mayes was thrilled to make a strong contribution.
"I just tried to take it a ball at a time. I was really well helped by people chipping in as well. I think it helped, kept me in the moment. No other words for it. It feels amazing (talking about his knock).
"As a team, we've tried to identify areas where we can score best, bowlers we can target. I think the whole team did that well today, not only me." Ben Mayes said after his innings.
Onslaught
Mayes, who sits his A-levels at King Edward VI School in Southampton this summer, came into bat after England had lost Kent's Ben Dawkins early and he wasted no time in taking the attack to the opposition.
Mayes along with Joe Moores began an onslaught that saw them record a 188-run stand in about 22 overs.
Mayes was supported brilliantly by Moores, who scored a quick 81, and their massive partnership effectively took the game away from the opposition.
The 18-year-old Mayes had a lion’s share in the partnership as he continued to dominate the opposition bowlers. In his innings, he smashed 18 boundaries and smashed eight sixes to completely flatten the Scottish attack.
Winchester College raised Seb Morgan hit a quick-fire 25 not out in the closing stages.
England's bowlers were impressive as they dismissed Scotland for just 152 in reply to ensure the side qualified for the Super Six phase of the event in Bulawayo.
Manny Lumsden took 2-17, while Hartley Wintney prospect Ethan Ramsay was 20* at the end of the Scotland innings. His four overs of medium-pace earlier cost
"I think a lot of attention switched today for us because we know if we got a good win against Scotland, it might mean only needing to win one in the Super Sixes to go through (to the semi-finals)," Mayes added.
"So, I think we've put ourselves in a really strong position."
Ben Mayes youth development
Ben Mayes has signed his first professional deal with Hampshire which will see him remain at Utilita Bowl until the end of the 2027 season.
He has been part of the men’s Academy since 2024 and has represented England Men’s U19s numerous times.
The 18-year-old was part of the Academy squad that won the ECB Southern Premier League for the first time in 2024, and last summer scored a century for the Young Hawks against St Cross Symondians at Utilita Bowl.
Mayes, who played England U16 hockey and has a single-figure golf handicap, has been in the Hampshire pathway since the U14s age group and previously played club cricket for Totton and Eling at Southern Gardens.
He made his Academy debut in May 2023, aged just 15 years old. He scored his first half-century for the Academy against Bournemouth in August 2024, where he fell two runs shy of a century.
In his first outing for the Second XI in 2025, Mayes scored 105 against Nottinghamshire and followed it up with a century for the Academy ten days later.
On his debut for England U19s, Mayes scored 30 not out and followed it up with 66 against Ireland U19s. He was then called up to the tour of South Africa, where he made 51 and earned Player of the Match in the first Youth ODI at Western Province.
