10 highest partnerships by runs: The T20 World Cup in its seven editions has seen a lot of high partnerships between batters. Here are top 10 such partnerships by runs!
In the T20 World Cups, we have seen many long and game-changing partnerships between batters of different countries.
Here are the top 10 such partnerships in terms of runs:
#10 – Shane Watson and David Warner (133)
In the 2012 edition in a group stage game, India batted first against Australia and could only manage 140 for 7.
In reply, Watson and Warner came out to open and bludgeoned the Indian bowling to all parts of the Premadasa in Colombo. By the time the first wicket fell at 133, the game was all done and dusted.
Warner remained not out at 63 off 41 balls, and Watto scored 72 off 42 balls, including 7 sixes!
#9 – Chris Gayle and Andre Fletcher (133)
Our next entry puts Australia at the receiving end. In the 2009 edition in a group stage game, Australia put up a decent score of 169 for 7.
However, Gayle and Fletcher went absolutely berserk in the chase. The two added 133 in just 11.3 overs. Gayle scored 88 off just 50 balls, while Fletcher was dismissed for 53 off just 32!
#8 – Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag (136)
In a match that’s much more famous for Yuvraj’s six sixes, it was this opening stand that set the platform. In a group game of the 2007 edition, India batted first and these two put 136 for the first wicket in just 14.4 overs.
This then became the launchpad for Yuvraj, courtesy whom India ended at 218 for 4, and won the match by 18 runs!
#7 – Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul (140)
This is the one that broke the previous one’s long-standing record. In the current edition, Rohit and Rahul combined together on a batting-friendly Abu Dhabi pitch and got to a quickfire 140 off just 14.4 overs.
Rohit scored a blistering 74 off 47 deliveries, while Rahul scored 69 in the 48 balls he faced. India won the game by a handsome margin of 66 runs!
#6 – Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt (142)
This one came in the 2010 edition, against a helpless Bangladeshi attack. Batting first, both Akmal and Butt scored 73 apiece, as they added 142 in just 15.5 overs.
Pakistan won the game by 21 runs!
#5 – TM Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene (145)
Batting first against England in a group stage game in the 2014 edition, eventual champions Lanka had a run-fest. Dilshan scored 55 off 47 balls, while Mahela bludgeoned 89 off just 51 deliveries!
#4 – Chris Gayle and Devon Smith (145)
The Universe Boss features once again on this list, this time with a different partner. It was the inaugural game of the first-ever T20 World Cup in the year 2007.
Chris Gayle lit up the occasion against hosts South Africa! He scored a wonderful 117 off just 57 balls, with Smith being the dormant partner in this partnership. He added only 35 off 34 balls.
However, the hosts chased the 206-run target down, with chase-master Herschelle Gibbs once again gunning down a huge target for his team!
#3 – Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan (152)
This is the first partnership on this list which is not an opening stand. This came for the 3rd wicket between Alex Hales and now captain Eoin Morgan.
The fact that this is the same match as the entry No.5 on this list makes it fascinating! Chasing 189 setup by Sri Lanka due to that brilliant Mahela-Dilshan partnership, England lost two quick wickets.
In came Morgan to join Hales, and what followed was madness! Hales scored an unbeaten 116 from 64 balls and Morgan 57 off just 38, as England chased the total down to register a famous win!
#2 – Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam (152)
This one is the second entry on this list from this year’s edition. In the high-octane India vs Pakistan clash, India could manage only 151 for 7 while batting first.
The Indian bowlers needed early wickets, but they were denied the same by some brilliant batting on display. Captain Babar (68 off 52) and wicketkeeper Rizwan (79 off 55) did not get out and saw the chase through by themselves!
The fact that it was the first-ever World Cup victory by Pakistan against India, made it that much more special!
#1 – Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara (166)
Mahela is back on the list, this time with his best friend Sangakkara! In the 2010 edition, in another group stage game, these two got together after some early breakthroughs.
They, however, did not stop and went on to make the world record for the highest partnership in T20 World Cups, which stands till date! Sri Lanka eventually made 195 for 3, as Mahela scored 98 off just 56 balls, while Sanga managed 68 off 49 on his part.
They say chemistry off the pitch translates well on it too, and it was true in their case!
So these are the top 10 highest partnerships in T20 World Cups!
