Donald equals fastest ever double-hundred

Glamorgan 481 for 8 (Donald 234, Bragg 60, Selman 57, Meschede 54*, Davis 5-123) v Derbyshire
Scorecard

Nineteen-year-old Aneurin Donald made an astonishing 234 off 136 balls, equalling the fastest double-century in first-class cricket in his maiden Championship hundred, as Glamorgan piled up 481 for 8 on the first day at a sun-kissed Colwyn Bay.

Although he was dropped twice early in his innings, Donald went on to devour the Derbyshire attack in an innings that include 15 sixes and 26 fours. He reached his 100, 150 and finally 200 with sixes - two over midwicket at a top edge to third man for the double - the 123 balls needed for the double putting him level with Ravi Shastri's innings from 1985 having required just 43 deliveries for his second hundred.

"I was pleased because it has put the team in a strong position, and after a lean patch recently, delighted to get a big one," Donald said. "I had no idea of the records that went, but it was especially pleasing to equal Ravi Shastri's previous record, as he is a former Glamorgan player".

Asked about reaching three landmarks with sixes, he admitted, "yes, it was in the mind"

After electing to bat first on a pitch that encouraged the seamers early on - Derbyshire didn't help themselves by dropping five catches - Glamorgan lost Mark Wallace in Tony Palladino's first over before Nick Selman and Will Bragg put on 88 for the second wicket only for Selman and Jacques Rudolph to depart in quick succession.

Donald did not appear until 2.10pm but was soon into his stride and was particularly severe on the young legspinner Matt Critchley who was struck for 24 in one over. He added 115 with Bragg and later 130 in 15 overs with Craig Meschede.

By the time Donald had struck his 15th and final six, a passing car had been dented on the road outside the ground as had five others in the members enclosure. He was finally dismissed, caught at long-off, after Derbyshire had posted nine fielders on the boundary after two overs of the second new ball had been taken.

To their credit, every Derbyshire player rushed to congratulate Donald as he left the field. He became the youngest double-centurion in the club's history - five years younger than the previous incumbent John Hopkins.

Will Davis, the young Derbyshire seamer took his first five wicket haul, but the day belonged to Donald on the North Wales coast.