NZ vs SA 1st Test: Rachin Ravindra Slams Maiden Double Century, Becomes 2nd Youngest Kiwi To Achieve Feat

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New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra slammed his maiden Test double century and in the progress secured a unique batting record on day 2 of the first Test against South Africa on Monday (February 5).

After scoring his maiden Test hundred on day 1 of play at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, Rachin doubled his tally and registered the highest score by a maiden century-maker in the history of New Zealand Cricket.

His knock of 240 off 366 balls, that included 26 fours and three sixes at a strike rate of over 65, saw Ravindra break the record of former Kiwi batter Matthew Sinclair, who scored 214 against West Indies on his debut in 1999.

Leading upto the Test, Ravindra had just played six innings and scored 73 runs at an average of just above 18. Now, in four Tests and seven innings, he has scored 313 runs and his average has rocketed to 52.16. His previous best Test score has also gone from 18* to 240.

The latest feat also saw one of the 2023 ODI World Cup stars become one of the youngest Blackcaps star to smash a Test double hundred. In the space of a few days, two young left-handed batters have smashed double tons.

At the age of 24 years and 79 days, he is the second-youngest to score a Test double ton for Kiwis. Sinclair is the youngest Kiwi batter to score a double ton at 24 years and 47 days.

India's Yashasvi Jaiswal also smashed a double ton in the recent Test against England in Visakhapatnam. A knock of 209 saw him become the third youngest Indian to score a double century in Tests at the age of 22 years and 36 days.

Rachin, who finished the ODI World Cup as the fourth-highest run-getter with 578 runs in 10 matches at an average of 106.44, with three centuries and two fifties, bagged the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year Award for 2023.

Coming to the NZ vs SA 1st Test match, the Kiwis were bowled out for 511 in their first innings after being put to bat first by the Proteas. Besides Rachin's 240, Kane Williamson scored his 30th Test century.

South Africa's debutant skipper Neil Brand took 6/119 was the pick of the bowlers, but the Proteas lost four wickets in their response to the big total set by the Kiwis. South Africa were 80/4 at stumps on day 2.