SMAT 2023: Punjab Creates History With Highest-ever Score, Abhishek Sharma Shines In Win Over Andhra Pradesh
This is the highest total in Indian T20 cricket (SMAT or IPL) and fourth highest overall in T20 cricket history. Punjab went past Mumbai's record, who smashed 258 runs against Sikkim in the 2019 edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
During their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023 encounter against Andhra Pradesh at the JSCA stadium in Ranchi on Tuesday, Punjab broke the record for the highest total by an Indian T20 squad thanks to a spectacular century from young domestic star batter Abhishek Sharma.
Punjab amassed a massive total of 275 for 6 in their 20 overs, surpassing the previous record of 263 established by IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) against Pune Warriors India in 2013. Abhishek went on to hit 112 runs in just 51 balls.
This is the fourth-highest total in T20 cricket history and the highest in Indian T20 cricket (SMAT or IPL) ever. Punjab broke Mumbai's record when they defeated Sikkim by 258 runs in the 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
highest Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy team total
Punjab vs. Andhra, 275/6 (Ranchi, 2023)
Mumbai vs. Sikkim, 258/4 (Indore, 2019)
Andhra vs. Manipur, 252/4 (Mulapadu, 2019)
250/3: Services v. Karnataka (Vizianagaram, 2019)
244/4 - Meghalaya vs. Madhya Pradesh (Mumbai, 2019)
Maximum team total in men's T20 cricket history
314/3 - Mongolia versus Nepal (Hangzhou, 2023)
278/3: Ireland vs. Afghanistan (Dehradun, 2019)
278/4 - Turkey vs. Czech Republic (Ilfov County, 2019)
Punjab vs. Andhra, 275/6 (Ranchi, 2023)
Hobart Hurricanes vs. Melbourne Stars, 273/2 (Melbourne, 2022)
Along with the enormous total, the Indian T20 team broke the record for most sixes struck by a team with 22, surpassing the RCB's 21 from the same game in 2013.
With his nine fours and as many sixes, Abhishek was destroying bowlers with his bat, blasting them all over the park.
Anmolpreet Singh also had an incredible performance, destroying the opposition with a scorching 87 runs in just 26 balls. Playing at a strike rate of 334.62, he hit nine sixes and six fours. In the competition, this was the third-fastest knock for a batter who had batted at least ten balls.
Speaking about the game, Andhra Pradesh defeated Punjab's historic total with a score of 170/7 in their 20 overs, although they lost by 15 runs.
Siddarth Kaul claimed two wickets, while Harpreet Brar claimed three. In the end, Arshdeep Singh and Prerit Dutta each claimed a wicket.