Gujarat lad Drona creates history, scores 498 runs in U-19 match

Drona Desai didn't know he was batting on 498 when he got out against JL English School, Maninagar in the Diwan Ballubhai Cup (U-19) at Shivaay Cricketing Hub in Karai, Gandhinagar and later rued falling two short of 500.

In scoring 498, the 18-year-old created history on Tuesday, becoming the highest scorer in inter-school cricket in Gujarat and the joint third-highest in India with Armaan Jaffer, behind only Pranav Dhanawade and Prithvi Shaw.

He spent 372 minutes in the middle, hit 86 boundaries and seven sixes off 320 balls before being dismissed caught behind by Himanshu Tadvi off Karan Mejiyatr's bowling.

With Het Desai's 142 off 98 balls (10x4, 9x6) and captain Viraj Talati's 104* off 93 balls (19x4, 1x6), the trio helped St Xavier's Loyola Hall amass 844/7 after skittling out JL for 40 in the first innings.

JL were bowled out for 92 in their second innings and St Xavier's cruised to an innings and 712-run win. Left-arm spinner Daishin Sharma's match haul of 9/53 was also pivotal for St Xavier's.