Baroda etched their name in cricketing history by scoring a mammoth 349/5 against Sikkim in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on December 5, 2024, at Indore’s Emerald High School Ground. This total surpassed Zimbabwe’s previous record of 344/4 in T20 cricket.
The hero of the match was Bhanu Pania, who hammered an explosive 134 off just 51 balls, including 15 sixes and five boundaries. Baroda also set another milestone by hitting 37 sixes, the most in a single T20 innings. This was the first time a team crossed the 300-run mark in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, showcasing Baroda’s batting dominance.
Explosive Batting Dominance
After winning the toss, captain Krunal Pandya chose to bat, and the decision paid off immediately. Openers Abhimanyu Singh and Shahwat Rawat blazed through the powerplay, scoring 92 runs in just five overs. Singh smashed 53 off 17 balls, while Rawat contributed 43 off 16. Despite losing both openers in quick succession, Baroda’s momentum didn’t falter.
Bhanu Pania and Shivalik Sharma unleashed an aggressive assault on the Sikkim bowlers. Their partnership yielded 94 runs in just five overs, with Shivalik contributing six sixes and three boundaries. Vikram Solanki later added a stunning cameo, scoring 50 off 16 balls with six sixes, propelling Baroda to the record-breaking total.
Sikkim’s Struggles and Bowling Records
Sikkim’s bowlers had no answers to Baroda’s relentless batting onslaught. Roshan Kumar endured a particularly difficult outing, conceding 81 runs in his four-over spell, breaking the Indian record for the most expensive T20 figures. Previously, Mohit Sharma had conceded 73 runs in an IPL 2024 game.
Baroda’s record-setting innings is now the highest total in T20 cricket, eclipsing Zimbabwe’s 344/4 against Gambia in Nairobi earlier this year. The other notable scores in T20 cricket include Nepal’s 314/3 against Mongolia and India’s 297/6 against Bangladesh.
Baroda’s monumental achievement underscores their dominance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, setting benchmarks for batting excellence and rewriting the history books in the shortest format of the game.
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