Record-breaking innings from Abhishek Sharma powers Punjab to 310, Bengal in trouble

India T20 opener Abhishek Sharma continued his rich vein of form as he tore apart Bengal’s bowling attack in an Elite Group C clash of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) on Sunday. Opening for Punjab, Abhishek scored a blistering 148 runs off just 52 balls, hitting 8 fours and 16 sixes, maintaining a strike rate close to 285.

He was well supported by fellow opener Prabhsimran Singh, as the duo compiled a record 205-run opening partnership, the highest first-wicket stand in SMAT history. Abhishek’s 12-ball fifty became the second-fastest half-century by an Indian in T20s, while his 32-ball century marked the third-fastest T20 hundred by an Indian.

The left-hander’s innings, featuring 16 sixes, also ranks as the second-most sixes in a SMAT innings. His heroics propelled Punjab to a mammoth 310 runs, only the second time in SMAT history a team has crossed the 300-mark, after Baroda’s 349 against Sikkim in 2023.

In reply, Bengal struggled badly, losing four wickets for just 52 runs in five overs, underlining Punjab’s dominance and leaving them facing a steep uphill battle to avoid a heavy defeat.

Records Broken by Abhishek Sharma

12-ball fifty: Second-fastest T20 half-century by an Indian

32-ball century: Third-fastest T20 hundred by an Indian

148 off 52 balls: Second-highest individual score in SMAT history

16 sixes: Second-most in SMAT innings history

205-run opening partnership: Highest first-wicket stand in SMAT history

310 team total: Only the second instance of a 300-plus score in SMAT

Abhishek’s destructive innings not only electrified the Hyderabad crowd but also cemented his reputation as one of India’s most explosive T20 talents, carrying his international form seamlessly into domestic cricket.