In a record-breaking performance at the JSCA stadium in Ranchi, Punjab's cricket team set the highest score ever by an Indian T20 side during their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023 clash against Andhra Pradesh. Punjab's total of 275 for 6 in 20 overs surpassed the previous record of 263, set by Indian Premier League side Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2013 against Pune Warriors India.
The star of the show, Abhishek Sharma, dazzled with a 51-ball 112, propelling Punjab to this monumental score. His innings, studded with nine fours and an equal number of sixes, left Andhra's bowlers clueless. Notably, his 93-run stand with Prabhsimran Singh, who made 24 off 21 balls, was a highlight.
Following this, Anmolpreet Singh's explosive 87 off 26 balls, featuring 6 fours and 9 sixes, further boosted the team's total.
Punjab also set a new benchmark for the most sixes by an Indian T20 team, hitting 22 sixes and eclipsing RCB's 21 from the 2013 game.
It's worth noting that back in 2013, Chris Gayle's unforgettable innings of 175 runs for RCB against Pune Warriors India had set the previous record.
Abhishek Sharma, who opened the batting and completed his century in just 42 balls was able to able his team the perfect start to their batting. The Andhra bowlers had no response to Abhishek's brilliant batting, as he took the score to 208-3 before losing his wicket.
Abhishek's stellar performance follows a period of diminished form since his outing in the ACC Emerging Asia Cup. In the final of that tournament, India suffered a 128-run defeat. Abhishek contributed 61 runs and forged a significant partnership with Sai Sudharsan in an attempt to chase down the imposing target of 353 runs, but their efforts were insufficient to secure a victory for India A.
This remarkable achievement by Punjab came on the heels of their defeat to Saurashtra in their opening group match, where they fell 37 runs short of a 211 target.
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