Follow UsIt was a historic outing at the Harare Sports Club for young Zimbabwe star Brian Bennett, who in just his seventh ODI posted a career-best score of 169.
Opening the batting in the first ODI against Ireland earlier today (February 14), Bennett became only the fifth ever Zimbabwean to breach the 150-run mark in ODIs. His 169 is, as it stands, the fifth-highest individual score by a Zimbabwean in ODI cricket, with four of the top five now coming in Harare.
All of 21 years and 96 days old, Bennett is the fourth youngest player in history to post a 150+ score in ODI cricket.
Youngest players to post a 150+ score in ODI history
20 years 4 days - Paul Stirling (IRE) in 2010
20 years 149 days - Tamim Iqbal (BAN) in 2009
20 years 353 days - Ibrahim Zadran (AFG) in 2022
21 years 96 days - Brian Bennett (ZIM) in 2025
In fact, only one batter in ODI history has scored more runs in an innings at a younger age than what Bennett did (169) today against Ireland - Paul Stirling 177 vs Canada in 2010.
Not many batters in history have achieved something both Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar haven’t, but Bennett has.
That’s right, Bennett now has a 150+ score to his name in ODIs before turning 22 - that’s something neither Kohli nor Sachin managed.
Kohli was 23 years and 134 days old when he crossed 150 for the first time in ODIs. Sachin, meanwhile, was 26 years and 198 days old.
Bennett, it is worth noting, is already the second-youngest centurion for Zimbabwe in Tests as well.