Jakob Bhula: 'Surreal to get record score'

New Zealand’s Jakob Bhula said it was a "surreal moment" after smashing 180 from 144 balls in the ICC U19 CWC fixture against Kenya to break the record for the highest score in the tournament's history.

The Kiwi opener hit 10 fours and five sixes in an extraordinary innings, beating the previous record of 176 set by Donovan Pagon of the West Indies against Scotland in 2002. After being put into bat, Bhula and his opening partner Rachin Ravindra (117) put on 245 – a record opening stand for the tournament – as New Zealand amassed 436/4. Kenya crawled to 193/4 in reply giving the Black Caps a comprehensive 243-run victory.

"They had to tell me in the middle that I had broken the record," said Bhula. "It’s all very surreal at the moment to get the highest score. It’ll probably kick in tomorrow. Early in the game I was struggling a bit but Rachin helped me. The partnership just got me going."

The Wellington-born youngster says he has modelled himself on Virat Kohli. “The way he’s hungry for runs and wants to win things is something I admire and would like to do."

The victory confirmed New Zealand's qualification for the quarter-finals. They face South Africa in their final group fixture at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on 20 January.