Top run-scorers of the 2022 U19 World Cup
DEWALD BREVIS – SOUTH AFRICA
- 506 runs in six innings
- Two centuries and three half-centuries
- High score of 138
- Average 84.33
- Strike-rate 90.19
South Africa’s Dewald Brevis, nicknamed ‘Baby AB’, was the standout candidate for Player of the Tournament and a worthy winner of the award.
The 18-year-old was utterly dominant with the bat in hand and could very easily have had four centuries to his name across six matches, falling just three runs short of a ton vs England and four runs shy against Ireland.
It wasn’t just the volume of runs that Brevis scored that helped him stand out, but the manner in which he did so. He has all the shots in the book, but also displayed the composure to know when to go on the attack and when to rein himself back in.
HASEEBULLAH KHAN – PAKISTAN
- 380 runs in six innings
- Two centuries and one half-century
- High score of 136
- Average 76
- Strike-rate 80.85
Pakistan’s classy left-handed bookended his tournament with massive centuries.
He got his World Cup off to a terrific start with an imperious 135 against Zimbabwe in the group stage, before slightly dropping off for the next three matches.
But Khan showed that his phenomenal start to the campaign was no fluke, top-scoring in a run-chase against Bangladesh with 79 and then finishing his tournament in style.
The wicketkeeper-batter’s 136 against Sri Lanka was overshadowed by his captain’s fireworks at the other end, but was an innings dripping with quality.
TOM PREST – ENGLAND
- 292 runs in six innings
- One century and one half-century
- High score of 154*
- Average 58.40
- Strike-rate 102.45
England’s captain already has some big-game experience for his county under his belt, and showed why he’s tipped for great things with one of the biggest individual scores of the tournament.
His unbeaten 154* against the UAE was a sumptuous innings, coming just two days after he’d stroked 93 against Canada.
Prest will depart the tournament with a few regrets about not contributing with the bat in the final, but over the course of England’s campaign he played a big part in helping them to the final, chipping in with five wickets along the way too and bowling in all six matches.
TEAGUE WYLLIE – AUSTRALIA
- 278 runs in six innings
- One century and two half-centuries
- High score of 101*
- Average 69.50
- Strike-rate 73.15
Australia’s star opener enjoyed an outstanding group stage, scoring an unbeaten 86 to get his campaign off to a flying start in the win over West Indies.
The fluent right-hander confirmed his quality with a brilliant 101* against Scotland to help send his side through into the Super League knockout stage.
Wyllie played a big role in the quarter-final win over Pakistan too, scoring a sprightly 71 at the top of the order.
But he couldn’t quite keep that spectacular momentum going, missing out on significant scores against India in the semi-final and against Afghanistan in the third-place playoff.
ANGKRISH RAGHUVANSHI – INDIA
- 278 runs in six innings
- One century and one half-century
- High score of 144
- Average 46.33
- Strike-rate 89.38
When a player is young even for U19 level you know he’s a real talent, and that is the case with India’s 16-year-old opener Raghuvanshi.
The youngster from Delhi has a lot of developing still to do, but on the evidence of this campaign he could be ready now.
With a number of the leading players in the squad ruled out of parts of the group stage due to Covid-19, Raghuvanshi stepped up, hitting 79 against Ireland and a wonderful 144 against Uganda.
His 44 against Bangladesh in the quarter-finals just further highlighted why Raghuvanshi is a player to keep an eye on in the coming years.
BRIAN BENNETT – ZIMBABWE
- 273 runs in six innings
- Three half-centuries
- High score of 83
- Average 45.50
- Strike-rate 84.52
The Bennett brothers were the success story for Zimbabwe at the tournament, with David and Brian both excelling.
It was Brian who out-scored his twin, racking up 273 runs across his six matches and scoring significantly right throughout the tournament.
His 83 against Pakistan and 62 against West Indies were particularly encouraging, and Bennett will have his eye on full Zimbabwe honours before too long, as will his brother.
DUNITH WELLALAGE – SRI LANKA
- 264 runs in six innings
- One century and one half-century
- High score of 113
- Average 44
- Strike-rate 70.40
The raw numbers from Dunith Wellalage are impressive enough, but they don’t tell the whole story.
The Sri Lanka captain produced the majority of his 264 runs when under pressure, helping rescue his team on a number of occasions.
His half-century against Australia came after the Sri Lankan top four had all fallen cheaply in the run chase, with Wellalage top-scoring as his side reached the target in impressive fashion.
His 113 against South Africa came after the loss of three wickets in the Powerplay that had threatened to derail the innings, while his 34 from number eight in the quarter-final against Afghanistan was his team’s top-score and very nearly saw them snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
He was also the small matter of the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 17 dismissals via his outstanding left-arm spin.
RAJ BAWA – INDIA
- 252 runs in five innings
- One century
- High score of 162*
- Average 63
- Strike-rate 100.80
The Player of the Match in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Final, Raj Bawa has put his name up in lights.
That award was largely down to his efforts with the ball, but he is a fine batter too. He showcased that with the biggest individual score of the tournament by any player, an unbeaten 162* against Uganda.
His 42 against Ireland and composed 35 in the final were also eye-catching. Bawa is one to watch.