The Baroda Cricket Team set a new benchmark in T20 cricket, breaking the record for the highest team total with an extraordinary 349 for five against Sikkim in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
In a stunning display of power-hitting, the Baroda batting line-up dominated the opposition and produced a thrilling performance.
Batting first, the top order caught fire, with Bhanu Pania taking center stage. Baniya’s impressive unbeaten 134 off just 51 balls including four boundaries and a jaw-dropping 15 sixes.
Supporting Bania were Abhimanyu Singh, Shivalik Sharma and Vishnu Solanki, each of whom contributed explosive fifties.
Singh’s quickfire 53 off 17, Sharma’s 55 off 17, and Solanki’s 50 off 16 ensured Baroda set a massive target.
On the bowling side, Sikkim struggled to contain Baroda’s attack.
Roshan Kumar was the pick of the bowlers for his team, but even his two wickets were not enough to prevent huge losses on the scoreboard. Kumar finished with figures of 2/81 from his four spells.
Leeyong Lepcha and Palzor Tamang also faced the brunt of Baroda’s firepower, conceding 55 and 45 runs respectively, with Tamang taking two wickets.
Baroda not only scored the most runs in the shorter format, but also hit the most sixes on a T20 tour, with 37 sixes, surpassing Zimbabwe’s record of 27 sixes.
Chasing 350, Sikkim could muster just 86 for 7 in 20 overs, with only two batsmen managing to cross the 15-run mark.
Spinners Krunal Pandya, Ninad Rathva and Mahesh Bethia shared five wickets between them, helping Baroda to a 263-run win, the fourth-largest margin of victory in the history of T20 cricket.
The record for the highest team total was previously held by Zimbabwe. On 23 October 2024, Zimbabwe set a target of 344/4 against Gambia in the Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier for the Men’s T20 World Cup.
Skipper Sikandar Raza scored an unbeaten 133 off 43 balls, including seven boundaries and 15 sixes, making him the third-fastest centurion in the shorter format of the game.