The series of weekly features looking back on some of the highpoints and personal milestones achieved during the 2016 season by Glamorgan players concludes focusses on the achievements of Aneurin Donald.
On a day when cars and buses travelling along the road adjoining the Rhos-on-Sea ground were struck by flying balls, Aneurin Donald equalled the world-record for the fastest double-century in first-class cricket on the opening day of Glamorgan’s Championship match against Derbyshire at Colwyn Bay. The young tyro reached his 200 from just 123 balls to equal the world best, set by Ravi Shastri. At 19 years and 210 days old, Aneurin also became Glamorgan’s youngest-ever double centurion in first-class cricket, beating Mike Powell’s record set against Oxford University at The Parks in 1997 when 20 years and 120 days old.
Aneurin’s record-breaking innings began at the Rhos ground at 2.10pm with Glamorgan on 96/3 in the 35th over with the youngster – after a scratchy start with several edges through the slips – going on to tame the Derbyshire attack during the course of the next four hours, before being dismissed at 6.09pm with Glamorgan on 437/7 in the 86th over, with all nine fielders around the boundary’s edge. Aneurin reached his 100, 150 and 200 with sixes, besides hitting 127 runs between lunch and tea, as well as a further 107 runs in the evening session.
Later in the season, Aneurin became the youngest batsman in Glamorgan’s history to reach the 1,000 run mark in first-class cricket. At 19 years and 263 days old, he reached the landmark on the third day of the Welsh county’s Specsavers County Championship against Gloucestershire at The SSE SWALEC. He had come into the match with a first-class tally of 960 runs to his name, and after being dismissed for 36 in the first innings, a cover drive for four against Jack Taylor in the second innings, saw him reach the target and beat Matthew Maynard’s Club record, achieved in 1986 of scoring 1,000 runs when he was 20 years old.
Four other Glamorgan batsmen have reached 1,000 runs in a season when in their early twenties with Hugh Morris (1986), Gilbert Parkhouse (1948), Mike Powell (1999) and Peter Walker (1958) all achieving the feat when 22 years old.
Further details about Aneurin’s career with Glamorgan and his achievements last summer will appear in the 2017 Glamorgan Yearbook, which is due to be published in March. To place an order at the special advanced price of £16 (plus £1.99 postage), please send an email to museum@glamorgancricket.co.uk or write to Yearbook Orders, c/o Archives Department, Glamorgan CCC, The SSE SWALEC, Cardiff, CF11 9XR. Please note that from December 1st, the Yearbook will be available at £17 (plus £1.99 postage).