Baroda Scores a Staggering 349 Runs: Sets a 350-Run Target for Sikkim with 37 Sixes, Sets World Record for Highest T20 Score

Baroda’s team has shattered all previous records and made history. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Krunal Pandya’s squad set a world record by scoring 349 runs in 20 overs—the highest score in T20 cricket history. 

Facing Sikkim, Baroda’s batters unleashed a spectacular display of power hitting to achieve this massive total. Previously, the record for the highest T20 total was held by Zimbabwe, whose batters scored 344 runs in 20 overs against Gambia earlier this year.

Baroda Sets a Target of 350 Runs for Sikkim

In a Group B match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024, Baroda faced Sikkim. After winning the toss, Baroda elected to bat first and delivered an explosive start. Openers Shashwat Rawat and Abhimanyu Singh played aggressively, giving the team a strong foundation. The duo put on a solid 92-run partnership for the first wicket.

Shashwat Rawat scored a quickfire 43 runs off just 16 balls, hitting 4 fours and 4 sixes. Meanwhile, Abhimanyu Singh Rajput smashed 53 runs in just 17 balls, with 4 fours and 5 sixes. Their powerful performance set the stage for Baroda’s record-breaking innings.

Baroda Secures Dominant 263-Run Victory Over Sikkim

Baroda defeated Sikkim by a massive 263-run margin in this match. Chasing a target of 350 runs, Sikkim could only manage 86 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their 20 overs. Robin Limbu was the top scorer for Sikkim with 20 runs, while Ankur remained unbeaten with 18 runs. Only three Sikkim batters managed to reach double figures.

For Baroda, Mahesh Pithiya and Ninad Rathva took two wickets each, contributing to their team’s dominant performance.

Bhanu Pania’s Explosive Century

In their final Group B league match against Sikkim, Baroda posted a formidable total of 349 runs in 20 overs, thanks to a sensational century by Bhanu Pania. Batting at number three, Bhanu delivered a powerful performance, scoring an unbeaten 134 runs.

He faced just 51 balls, smashing 15 sixes and 5 fours in his brilliant innings. His explosive batting played a crucial role in Baroda’s record-breaking total and dominant victory.

Bhanu’s Record-Breaking Innings

Bhanu Pania’s unbeaten 134-run knock has set multiple records in T20 cricket:

• Highest Individual Score in T20: Bhanu’s 134* is now the highest individual score by a Baroda batter in T20s, surpassing Deepak Hooda’s previous record of 108 runs.
• Most Runs from Boundaries in a T20 Innings: Bhanu scored 110 runs from boundaries (15 sixes and 5 fours), breaking Kedar Devdhar’s record of 80 boundary runs.
• Most Sixes in a T20 Innings: Bhanu smashed 15 sixes, overtaking Deepak Hooda’s previous record of 9 sixes in a T20 match.

His outstanding performance not only secured a massive win for Baroda but also etched his name in the record books.

Shivalik and Vishnu’s Explosive Batting

Batting at the fourth and fifth positions, Shivalik Sharma and Vishnu Solanki delivered powerful performances, each scoring quickfire fifties. Shivalik smashed 55 runs off just 17 balls, hitting 3 fours and 6 sixes. Meanwhile, Vishnu dominated the bowlers with an unbeaten 50 off just 16 balls, which included 2 fours and 6 sixes.

Sikkim’s Roshan Kumar had a tough outing, conceding 81 runs in his 4 overs while taking 2 wickets. This aggressive middle-order display contributed significantly to Baroda’s record-breaking total.

Baroda Crosses 300 in the 18th Over

With Bhanu Pania’s explosive century off just 42 balls, Baroda crossed the 300-run mark in just 17.2 overs. They had already reached 100 runs during the powerplay, becoming the first Indian domestic team outside the IPL to achieve this feat in a T20 match.

By the end of 20 overs, Baroda posted a record-breaking total of 349 runs. This makes them the highest-scoring team in T20 cricket history, surpassing Zimbabwe’s 344/4 against Gambia earlier in 2024.

99 Runs in the Last 37 Balls

Baroda’s batters unleashed a stunning assault in the final phase, scoring 99 runs off the last 37 balls of the innings. The team also crossed the 50-run mark in just the first 16 deliveries, showcasing their aggressive intent right from the start. This late surge played a crucial role in their record-setting total of 349 runs.

37 Sixes: Sikkim Bowlers Face Baroda’s Onslaught

In the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, Sikkim’s bowlers had no answer to Baroda’s relentless batting attack. The ferocity of their batting can be gauged by the strike rates—none of the top five Baroda batters had a strike rate below 200.

Baroda smashed a total of 37 sixes in their innings, surpassing the previous record of 27 sixes set by Zimbabwe against Gambia. This brutal display of power hitting highlighted Baroda’s dominance and left Sikkim’s bowling lineup overwhelmed.