A pair of Indian schoolboys have driven their way into the record books by scoring 721 runs for the opening wicket in a limited-overs match.
Shahbaz Tumbi and B Manoj Kumar achieved the feat in 40 overs during an under-13 inter-school match at Secunderabad in southern India.
Their achievement eclipses the previous record of 664 held by batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli.
Tumbi and Kumar's shell-shocked opponents were all out for 21 runs.
"It is unforgettable moment for all of us. Everybody is excited and inspired by our young heroes," declared TV Reddy, a spokesman for St Peter's School.
Scintillating
Staff and pupils at the school have not stopped celebrating since the record was set on Wednesday.
The school band is almost more exhausted than the cricketers after playing tune after tune in honour of the young heroes.
Twelve-year-old Mohammed Shahbaz Tumbi and his class mate B Manoj Kumar were playing as openers in the under-13 school cricket tournament of the Hyderabad Cricket Association.
Shahbaz scored 324 runs - with 57 boundaries - off 116 balls.
His partner and close friend Manoj scored an equally scintillating 320 runs - with 46 boundaries - off 127 balls.
A whopping 77 extras meant that the total from their partnership went up to 721 runs for no wicket.
Interestingly not a single six was hit during the trail blazing innings.
Statisticians say that three records were broken during their run-blitz: highest total, highest stand and highest margin of victory - in any form of limited-overs cricket at any level.
The run riot came against a hapless St Philip's High School, which was bundled out for a paltry score of 21.
Two young St Peter's bowlers played the role of demolition squad, with one off spinner taking seven wickets for a mere 11 runs.
Parents and family members of the young batsmen are now in great demand as a media onslaught descended on the school.
Several television channels reported live as the pair received cash rewards and prizes by the school management and other well-wishers.
Stars in their eyes
"We went in to the field with only one thing in our minds. We will have to play all 40 overs, score big and make a name for our school," said Shahbaz.
"We only came to know of the scale of our achievement after we returned to the pavilion."
Manoj, holding mementoes and gifts in both the hands, said that whenever he got a good ball, he hit it as hard as he could.
"This is how the runs were scored. We first thought of scoring a century, then a double century and finally the third one.
FACTS BEHIND THE RECORD
"When we were about 64 runs short of breaking the 1998 record, the coach told me about it and we scored it in six overs."
Both boys now have stars in their eyes and are dreaming big.
"Having broken the school record of Sachin Tendulkar, we also want to go up to his level of playing and one day play for India," declared a determined Shahbaz.
Manoj also shared his dream.
"I want to become an Indian player and I will try my level best to do that," he said.
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