21-Year-Old Bennett Smashes 169, Becomes Zimbabwe’s Youngest to Reach 150 in ODIs
Brian Bennett delivered a career-defining performance, proving his worth at the top of the order. Despite managing only 87 runs in his first six ODIs, with no fifties and two ducks in his last three innings, the 21-year-old embraced the challenge of opening the batting and responded in style.
Facing Ireland in the first ODI in Harare on Friday, Bennett played a magnificent knock of 169 off 163 balls, decorated with 20 fours and 3 sixes. It marked his maiden ODI century and set a new milestone for Zimbabwean cricket.
His innings now stands as Zimbabwe’s fifth-highest individual score in ODIs. Among Zimbabweans to score 150 or more in an ODI, none have achieved the feat at a younger age than Bennett.
On the global stage, Bennett now ranks fourth on the list of youngest players to score 150+ in an ODI. At 21 years and 96 days, he surpassed legendary names like Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill.
Gayle had achieved his first ODI 150 (152 runs) at 21 years and 328 days against Kenya in 2001. Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz (151 at 21 years and 269 days) sits fifth on the list, while Kohli (183 at 23 years and 134 days) and Gill (208 at 23 years and 132 days) also feature among the youngest to reach the milestone.
The only three players younger than Bennett to score 150+ in ODIs are Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran (162 at 20 years and 353 days), Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal (154 at 20 years and 149 days), and Ireland’s Paul Stirling, who holds the record with 177 runs at just 20 years and 4 days.
On the other end of the spectrum, Gayle holds the record for the oldest player to hit 150+ in an ODI, scoring 162 against England in 2019 at 39 years and 159 days.
Before this innings, Bennett’s highest ODI score was just 37. He had batted at No. 7 in four of his previous six matches, once at No. 6, and once at No. 3. He endured a miserable series against Afghanistan in December, scoring 0, 0, and 9 in three games.
However, stepping up as an opener, Bennett turned his fortunes around, reaching his century in 117 balls and his 150 in 155 deliveries. His fantastic knock ended in the final over, caught out after a valiant effort.
Alongside Craig Ervine’s fifty, Bennett’s heroics propelled Zimbabwe to a total of 299, securing a 49-run victory over Ireland.
Bennett has already shown glimpses of his all-round talent, having scored his maiden Test century and taken a five-wicket haul with his off-spin against Afghanistan last December. Now, with this breakthrough ODI performance, Zimbabwe may have unearthed a future star.
