Double-ton schoolboy makes history, misses Grace mark

Teenage batsman Dominic Sibley hit 220 not out against Yorkshire on Thursday to become the youngest player to score a double century in the history of England’s County Championship.

His feat, at the age of 18 years and 21 days, also made him the second youngest player to score 200 runs in a first-class game in England, behind only the legendary WG Grace, who achieved the feat aged 18 years and 12 days.

The right-handed batsman batted for nine and a half hours at The Oval, facing 512 balls and recording 21 fours and two sixes. He was making only his third four-day appearance for Surrey.

He enjoyed a partnership of 236 with Hashim Amla, before the South Africa star was dismissed for 151.

Surrey, who have already been relegated from the First Division, ended the third day of the contest on 572-4 in response to Yorkshire’s first-innings total of 434.

Sibley, given permission by his school to miss four days of A-level study to play in the game, admitted his record-breaking day was a dream come true, especially since he was batting with his hero Amla.

“I didn’t have many chances to score this morning because Yorkshire bowled really tight,” Sibley told BBC London 94.9.

“I was so relieved to finally get my hundred but, when I went to 200, it was just unbelievable.

“Speaking with my mum this morning I told her how desperate I was to bat with Hashim Amla before he left Surrey.

“Today I could not have wished for a better partner because with him there I could just play my own game.”