20 November,2013 07:52 PM IST | | Agencies
14-year-old Mumbai teenager Prithvi Shaw created a national record on Wednesday, hitting an astonishing 546 playing for Rizvi Springfield against St Francis D'Assisi Borivali in an inter-school match for the prestigious Harris Shield in Mumbai.
Touted as one of the bright young prospects emerging out of Mumbai school of batsmanship, the state U-16 captain Prithvi hit 85 boundaries and five sixes in the match played at the Azad Maidan.
In the process, Prithvi became the first schoolboy cricketer to hit a 500 plus score in an official inter-school match.
Prithvi Shaw. Pic/ Atul Kamble
"I am feeling good. It is a good score for me and my team. Our coach just asked me to concentrate on every ball. The only plan was to score as many runs as we could. I want to continue like this in future also," the youngster said.
Prithvi eclipsed his senior schoolmate and former India opener Wasim Jaffer's nephew Arman's score of 498, which he scored a few years back.
Having bowled out St Francis for 92, Prithvi was unbeaten on 257 off 166 balls yesterday and smashed another 289 runs on the day.
It was Harris Shield, which first brought Sachin Tendulkar into national prominence after his world record partnership of 664 with Vinod Kambli that was broken a few years back.
The previous highest by an Indian in any form of registered competitive cricket is 515 by Dadabhoy Havewala for BB and CI Railway vs St. Xavier's College at Mumbai during 1933-34 season.
This is the third highest score if one goes by all the registered scorecards available worldwide since the inception of competitive cricket.
As per available information, AEJ Collins scored 628 not out in a competitive match in England in 1899 and CJ Eady struck 566 in another competitive match in 1901.
Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is believed to have been highly impressed by the youngster's potential and Prithvi is already talked about as a future star.
"I started batting Tuesday post-lunch and scored 257 off 166 deliveries by stumps, and carried on batting today (Wednesday) to reach the record score," an elated Prithvi, who captains his school team, said during a short break at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai where he battered the opponents' bowling attack.
His father Pankaj Shaw, a local garments trader, with tears of joy in his eyes, said Prithvi, studying in ninth standard, has surpassed all expectations in achieving the record. Shaw said Prithvi amassed the staggering score off 330 balls, with 85 fours and five sixes.
With his performance, Prithvi -- who has already been nicknamed 'Prithvi Missile' by the Mumbai media -- has broken the 2010 record of Armaan Jaffer (498).
Born and bred in Virar in Thane district, Prithvi lost his mother a few years ago. Pankaj moved to Santacruz east to enable his son hone his cricketing skills and get good education in a reputed school.
"He is extremely dedicated and hardworking. Every free hour from school and studies, he devotes on the cricket field, either at MIG Club, Bandra or the Air India Club, Santacruz."
Prithvi's promise was recognised two years ago when he went to England and played for Gloucestershire second eleven. u00a0
With performances like these, there is a possibility that the junior selection committee under the chairmanship of Connor Williams will be seriously thinking about Shaw with the Under-19 World Cup in mind next year.
