Chad Bowes of New Zealand breaks world record of Fastest 200

Chad Bowes, the opener for New Zealand, smashed the fastest double century in men’s List A cricket on Wednesday. In the Ford Trophy, a domestic one-day tournament in New Zealand, Bowes opened the batting for Canterbury against Otago. He reached his double century off 103 balls. Bowes surpassed the mark shared by Indian wicketkeeper-batter N Jagadeesan and Australian batsman Travis Head after being bowled for 205 off 110 deliveries.

With 114 balls, Head and Jagadeesan had each achieved their double hundreds. While Jagadeesan of Tamil Nadu accomplished the same feat with his record-breaking 277 against Arunachal Pradesh in the 2022 Vijay Hazare Trophy. Head accomplished it for South Australia against Queensland in the 2021–22 Marsh Cup.

It may take some time for it to set in, Bowes said. “It might sink in over the next day or two, but a great day here at Hagley and a good occasion to do something special,” he remarked following his innings.

“These things occur spontaneously and naturally. I’m happy it was my day since you didn’t try to do it or prepare for it. It was wonderful to get the most of them out of the middle and hit it around the park because they probably don’t [hit the ball] consistently that well. I didn’t try to control it too much and simply kept the foot on the accelerator because it started extremely well and was functioning.

Chad Bowes crashes Otago by himself.

The fact that it was Bowes’ 100th List A match added to the occasion’s significance. After being selected to bat first at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, the right-hander displayed remarkable strokeplay. He smashed 27 fours and seven sixes to help Canterbury reach 343 for 9.

Bowes celebrated his century in just 53 deliveries after reaching his half-century in a quick 26 balls. In the 39th over, Matthew Bacon, who finished with five wickets, dismissed him LBW. He was dismissed after he completed a double century in another 50 balls.

Captain Cole McConchie scored the second-highest score of 27 from 40 balls. Only two other players from Canterbury’s top seven were able to reach double figures. But with a crucial late burst of 49 runs off 46 balls, No. 8 Zakary Foulkes helped them approach the 350-mark.

Canterbury won by an overwhelming 240 runs after knocking Otago out for just 103.