Top 5 Partnerships In T20 Cricket

Priyansh Arya and Ayush Badoni during DPL 2024 (x.com)Priyansh Arya and Ayush Badoni during DPL 2024 (x.com)

Partnerships remain a fundamental aspect of batting, regardless of the format. Even in the fast-paced and electric stage of T20 cricket, heavy six-hitting onslaught from both ends can dent the confidence of even the most formidable of bowling attacks.

Signifying the importance of partnerships, here at OneCricket, we take a look at five of the highest stands ever recorded for any wicket in competitive 20-overs matches.

5. Aaron Finch and D'Arcy Short - 223 runs vs Zimbabwe, 2018

Aaron Finch and D'Arcy Short - 223 runs vs Zimbabwe, 2018 (x.com)Aaron Finch and D'Arcy Short - 223 runs vs Zimbabwe, 2018 (x.com)

In match three of the 2018 Zimbabwe tri-series, Australian openers Aaron Finch and D'Arcy Short crashed Zimbabwe’s bowling attack in Harare with a 223-run partnership for the first wicket. Captain Finch, in particular, exploded with a world record T20I score of 172 from just 76 balls with 16 boundaries and 10 sixes. 

Short listed two sixes and three boundaries in his 46-run knock as Australia went on to rack up a match-winning total of 229-2 from 20 overs. Apart from headlining their team’s 100-run win in the match, Finch and Short’s 223-run partnership remains one of the largest stands in T20 history and the biggest involving Australian players.

4. Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers - 229 runs vs Gujarat Lions, 2016

Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers - 229 runs vs Gujarat Lions, 2016 (x.com)Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers - 229 runs vs Gujarat Lions, 2016 (x.com)

RCB zealots Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers walloped Gujarat Lions bowlers with a 229-run partnership for the second wicket during the 2016 edition of IPL in Bengaluru. After Chris Gayle was cleaned up by Dhawal Kulkarni in the fourth over of the innings, Kohli and Villiers ensured RCB mounted 248-3 by the completion of their 20 overs. 

Kohli himself smacked 109 runs from 55 balls with five boundaries and eight sixes in the high-scoring innings, while his South African partner slapped a turbulent 129* from just 52 deliveries with 10 boundaries and 12 maximums. Villiers won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his boundary blitz after RCB secured a huge 144-run victory.

3. Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani - 236 runs vs Ireland, 2019

Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani - 236 runs vs Ireland, 2019 (x.com)Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani - 236 runs vs Ireland, 2019 (x.com)

Afghanistan opening batters Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani pulverized a visiting Irish attack in Dehradun, India with a 236-run opening partnership back in February 2019. After Ghani’s dismissal for 73 in the 18th over of the innings, Zazai marched on to make an unbeaten 162 from 62 balls with 11 boundaries and 16 staggering sixes. 

Their partnership set up Afghanistan’s humungous 278-run total, which remains the second highest in T20I history to date. Moreover, Zazai and Ghani’s 236-run offence also marks the highest T20I partnership ever recorded for any wicket by a Test playing nation.

2. Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake and Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming - 258* runs vs China, 2024

Japan openers Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake and Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming belted huge centuries against China during match three of the 2024 East Asia Cup in Mong Kok. The two blistering openers batted out the 20 overs to share an unbroken 258-run partnership. 

While Lachlan top-scored with 134* from 68 balls with eight boundaries and 12 sixes, his partner Kendel made 109* in just 53 balls at a strike-rate in excess of 200. Marking the second highest partnership across all T20 cricket, it also remains the highest stand for any wicket ever recorded in T20 internationals.

1. Priyansh Arya and Ayush Badoni - 286 runs vs North Delhi Strikers, 2024

Priyansh Arya and Ayush Badoni - 286 runs vs North Delhi Strikers, 2024 (x.com)Priyansh Arya and Ayush Badoni - 286 runs vs North Delhi Strikers, 2024 (x.com)

In match 23 of the Delhi Premier League 2024 season, South Delhi Superstarz opener Priyansh Arya shattered numerous batting records with his captain and number three batter Ayush Badoni. After the early dismissal of Sarthak Ray, the two cricketers shared 286 runs together for the second wicket to set up a 300-plus total for the Superstarz. 

Launching 10 boundaries and 10 sixes, including six in succession off a single Manan Bhardwaj over, Priyansh made 120 runs from just 50 balls. Captain Badoni, meanwhile, batted with a staggering strike-rate of 300 to slap 165 off 55 deliveries with 19 sixes.