Gustav McKeon, the teenage opener for France, shattering yet another record at the Europe T20 World Cup 2024 Sub-Regionals, only days after becoming the youngest player to strike a T20I century.
McKeon followed up his hundred against Switzerland in Vantaa with a 53-ball 101 against Norway on Wednesday, smashing five fours and eight sixes while reaching three figures with a massive six over mid-wicket.
With his outstanding performance, McKeon broke the record for the most runs scored in the first three innings of a men's T20I career and became the first player to achieve back-to-back hundreds in the T20I format. His run total of 286 also set a new T20I record. Azhar Andani, who recorded scores of 46, 100, and 81 in his first three innings for Portugal last year, was surpassed by the opener.
The French team, led by 18-year-old McKeon, beat the more-favored Norwegians thanks to his goal, and they now share first place in Group 2 with Switzerland on four points. The Swiss have a game in hand over their rivals, but they will be eager to avenge their loss when they play the Norwegians on Thursday.
With the bat, Lingeswaran Canessane nearly had the French to himself, scoring 15 to be the next-highest total for the team. In order to turn the screws, McKeon also claimed 3/27 (4) with his right-arm medium-fast, helping the squad successfully defend 158. Nobody at the stadium was surprised when McKeon was named Player of the Match.
The Frenchman wasn't the only one to raise the bat on Wednesday; according to an ICC report, Swiss opener Faheem Nazir smashed a 107 not out in 68 balls as his team defeated Estonia.
The Estonian comeback was then stifled by Faheem and Ashwin Vinod, who shared three wickets between them in the first two overs of their new ball innings. Although the damage had already been done and the Swiss pulled away with the victory by 31 runs, Stuart Hook and Ali Masood were strong in a comeback, posting undefeated fifties.
The winner of the third Sub-Regional competition will compete in the Europe Qualifier next year against the European teams that did not advance to the 2024 event, namely Ireland, the Netherlands, and Scotland.