Two Surrey stars were in record-breaking form on international duty with England this week.
Jamie Smith scored the fastest England Lions century, off 71 balls, before going on to make 126 from 86 against Sri Lanka A.
The Lions won the match by four wickets.
Smith broke Luke Wright’s 91-ball century for the England Lions against New Zealand A in 2009.
“It is certainly the most entertaining and most enjoyable innings that I have ever played,” Smith said. “I would say it is the best innings that I have ever played.
“I didn’t know that it was a record century and I didn’t go out there to achieve that obviously.
“When you get in that situation and you’re flying along you are just focusing on being positive and trying to hit boundaries, hit the ball as far and as hard as I can.
“You definitely take on board the style of play that the England team are employing because that’s the style [the coaches] want to see.
“The coaching staff here give you the freedom to go out and play that way. I’m not focusing on whether I get out, it’s about how you can make runs and being positive.
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“That has certainly helped me to make runs here and play the way I did.
“It’s the next step in my career and it has been an opportunity to show my skills and test myself against some really good bowlers.
“It’s good to get in this environment and to play against spin and try and adapt my game to that.”
Meanwhile, eighteen-year-old Alice Capsey hit a half-century off just 21 balls as England defeated Ireland by four wickets at the Women’s T20 World Cup in Paarl, South Africa. That was the fastest half-century for England in Women’s T20.
Capsey finished with 51 from 22 balls after being caught by Leah Paul.
England face India on Saturday and Pakistan next Tuesday.
