Junior cricketer Zafar Ansari has been celebrating after putting in a remarkable performance for England U16s at Lord’s.

Zafar, 16, was invited to captain the team in their friendly match with England U15s at cricket’s headquarters last week, and was awarded the man-of-the-match award as the game ended in a tie.

Zafar, a student at Hampton School, put in a fine all-round performance. First, he bowled 10 overs and took one wicket for 17. Then, he scored 68 as he led from the front in the run chase.

The match was arranged as a special event to mark the 60th anniversary of the English Schools Cricket Association.

ESCA is a recognised stepping stone into the professional game – nine members of the 2005 Ashes winning team were former ESCA cricketers. Zafar said: “It was fascinating to play at HQ. To use the same dressing rooms as the top players and to play on the same square.

“When I bowled, I tried to make use of the famous Lord’s slope, and the ball was really turning. “When we batted, I managed to hit three sixes to the short side of the ground, and was out going for a fourth, caught on the boundary.

“It was a fantastic day, and a real honour to play my part.”

Zafar’s older brother, Akbar, another ex-Hampton School student, is also heading for the professional game.

He couldn’t be at Lord’s to cheer on his younger brother as he was playing for Surrey 2nds.

Earlier in the season, Akbar dominated the university match between Oxford and Cambridge, scoring 193 in the Cambridge first innings and 80 not out in the second.

Later, he was presented with the Walter Lawrence Trophy for the highest score by a university student during the season.