Fastest U19 World Cup hundreds, full list: Australia opener breaks world record with 51 ball-ton

Jan 20, 2026 2 minute read ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, 2026

Australia’s Will Malajczuk hit a record-breaking 51-ball hundred in their U19 World Cup game against Japan on Tuesday (January 20) at the Namibia Cricket Ground.

Batting first, Hugo Tani-Kelly hit a second consecutive 50-plus score after slamming a ton in Japan’s first game of the tournament, also his Youth ODI debut. He stitched important partnerships with Nihar Parmar, Charlie and Montgomery Hara-Hinze to take his side past 200 and himself finish at 79*.

Australia were always the favourites in the chase, but Malajczuk’s record knock made easy work of it. The southpaw raced to his century in 51 balls, doing so in the 14th over of Australia’s innings. He hit 12 fours and five sixes in the eventual score of 102 (55).

The opener’s hundred was the fastest in U19 World Cup history and the second-fastest in Youth ODIs. Pakistan’s Qasim Akram previously held the record of the fastest ton in the event, getting to the mark off 63 deliveries against Sri Lanka in the 2022 edition.

Pakistan’s Sameer Minhas currently holds the record for fastest hundred in YODIs, doing so off 42 deliveries against Zimbabwe earlier this year. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi appears twice in the top five of the list, and thrice in the top six, having hit YODI tons off 52, 56 and 63 balls, all within the last year.

Malajczuk was Australia’s first wicket to fall in the 16th over of the chase. His opening partner, Nitesh Samuel, hit a 60 as the side got home with eight wickets and more than 20 overs to spare.

Match 16, Australia Under-19 vs Japan Under-19

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Australia Under-19 vs Japan Under-19 | ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, 2026 | Match 16

Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek

Tuesday, January 20th, 2026 07:30am (UTC:+0000)

AUS-U19 Australia Under-19

204/2

(29.1) RR: 6.99

vs

JPN-U19 Japan Under-19

201/8

(50.0) RR: 4.02

Australia Under-19 beat Japan Under-19 by 8 wickets