Baroda set a new world record for the highest total in T20 cricket, scoring 349/5 against Sikkim in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on Thursday in Indore. This total surpassed Zimbabwe’s previous record of 344/4, set against Gambia in Nairobi last October.
Baroda’s explosive innings featured a remarkable 37 sixes, breaking another T20 record for the most sixes in an innings. Zimbabwe had held the previous record of 27 sixes from their match against Gambia.
Shashwat Rawat and Abhimanyusingh Rajput gave Baroda a strong start, putting on a 92-run opening partnership in the powerplay. Bhanu Pania then took charge, scoring a rapid century off 42 balls. Pania’s knock included five fours and 15 sixes, with his first fifty coming off just 20 balls and his second off 22. He finished unbeaten on 134 off 51 balls, at a strike rate of 262.75, marking his first-ever century in white-ball domestic cricket in his 39th innings.
Shivalik Sharma and wicketkeeper-batter Vishnu Solanki also contributed with explosive half-centuries. Sharma made 55 off 17 balls, while Solanki scored 50 off 16 balls. Despite missing Hardik Pandya, Baroda ended their innings with a record-breaking total, as four of Sikkim’s seven bowlers conceded 20 or more runs per over.
In response, Sikkim’s chase was dismal, as they were restricted to 86/7 in their 20 overs. Only two of their batters managed to score more than 15 runs. Baroda’s spinners, Krunal Pandya, Ninad Rathva, and Mahesh Pithiya, shared five wickets, and Baroda won by a massive 263-run margin, the fourth-largest win by runs in T20 history.
Baroda have been in excellent form this season, topping Group A in the Ranji Trophy with four wins from five matches and winning five of their six games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy before this record-breaking victory.
Leave a Reply