Baroda posted the highest-ever team total in T20 cricket breaking the world record held by Zimbabwe and also smashed record-breaking 37 sixes in the game.
Krunal Pandya-led Baroda cricket team created multiple world records in their Syed Mushtaq Ali Tournament (SMAT) T20 match against minnows Sikkim at the Emerald Heights International School in Indore on Thursday. Not only did Baroda become the first Indian team ever to score 300 runs in a T20 match, they posted the highest-ever team total in this format – beating the record set by Zimbabwe earlier this year.
Baroda hammered 349 for 5 wickets in 20 overs, beating Zimbabwe’s total of 344 for 4 against Gambia in Nairobi this year. They also hammered a total of 37 sixes in the match – the highest-ever in a T20 game, beating the 27 sixes hit by Zimbabwe vs Gambia.
Team India had fallen short of scoring 300 in a T20 international match earlier this year as well, when they posted 297 for 6 against Bangladesh in Hyderabad. For Baroda, Bhanu Pania top-scored with 134 off 51 balls with 15 sixes and 5 fours, while three other batters scored half-centuries.
India and Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya did not even feature in Baroda’s playing 11 in this match, in spite of being in sensational form in the SMAT 2024. Vishnu Solanki scored 50 off 16 balls with six sixes, Shivalik Sharma notched up 55 off 17 balls with six maximums as well while opener Abhimanyu Singh started off the onslaught with a half-century off 14 balls in his 53 off 17 balls with 5 sixes.
Record Alert 🚨
349 runs 😮, 37 sixes 🔥
Baroda have rewritten the history books in Indore! They smashed 349/5 against Sikkim, the highest total in T20 history, & set a new record for most sixes in an innings – 37 👏#SMAT | @IDFCFIRSTBank
Scorecard: https://t.co/otTAP0gZsD pic.twitter.com/ec1HL5kNOF
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) December 5, 2024
Baroda also became the first Indian domestic team outside the IPL to record 100 runs within a T20 Powerplay and the run- rate just soared with every passing over. The team crossed the 300-run mark in just 17.2 over led by Pania’s 42-ball century. Pania also became the first Indian batter to hammer 15 sixes in a T20 match.
Krunal Pandya’s side also hammered 294 runs in boundaries – 37 sixes and 18 fours – the highest-ever in a T20 team innings. The team were on course for a massive win after reducing Sikkim to 71 for 7 in the 19th over, needing 350 to win. Skipped Krunal opened the bowling and claimed one wicket for 8 runs in 4 overs.