Baroda notches 349 runs to record highest T20 team total versus Sikkim during Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament

Krunal Pandya-led Baroda stole the show during the final round of league matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament. Baroda scored 349/5 from their 20 overs during the game against Sikkim that was played in Indore on Thursday. This is the highest-ever team total in the history of T20 cricket. 

Baroda won the toss and chose to bat first as Hardik Pandya was rested for the game. Openers Shashwat Rawat and Abhimanyu Singh began to attack the bowlers from the word go. The two batters added 92 runs for the opening wicket as the Sikkim bowlers were sent on a leather hunt. 

Roshan Kumar gave Sikkim their first wicket of the day when he dismissed opener Abhimanyu Singh for 53. Baroda’s opener scored 53 runs which came off just 17 balls with four boundaries and 5 sixes. Kumar struck again when he got the key wicket of Shashwat Rawat for 43 runs from 16 balls with four boundaries and an equal number of sixes. 

Bhanu Pania's century aids Baroda to highest T20 team total 

After the fall of their opening batters, Baroda batters didn’t let the intensity go as they kept scoring runs at a quick pace. Bhanu Pania and Shivalik Sharma added 94 runs for the third wicket. That stand came in five overs as both batters made use of some sloppy bowling on offer. 

Tarun Sharma dismissed Shivalik after the Baroda batter scored 55 runs from 17 balls with 3 fours and 6 maximums. Skipper Vishnu Solanki joined Bhanu Pania and the pair punished Sikkim further with 88-stand for the 4th wicket from 34. Solanki was out for 50 from just 16 balls in which he hit 2 fours and 6 huge hits beyond the fence. 

The star of the show for Baroda with the bat was Bhanu Pania who scored an unbeaten 134. His knock came off just 51 balls with 15 sixes and five boundaries. This helped Baroda finish with 349/5 from their 20 overs. Krunal Pandya’s side hit 37 sixes during the innings along with 18 fours.