ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Records: Which Players Have Played the Highest 1st Wicket Partnerships?

T20 World Cup Records: Highest 1st Wicket Partnership

There have been some of the most thrilling and historic performances in cricket history at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. A solid starting partnership is one of the most essential elements of a Twenty20 match. A strong first-wicket partnership may help chase down a problematic mark with ease or set the tone for a massive total. Although a number of opening couples have dominated the opposition over the years, one partnership is superior to the others. 

Jos Buttler and Alex Hales, who bowled an unbeaten 170-run stand for England against India in the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup semi-final, hold the highest first-wicket partnership in T20 World Cup history.

A Record-Breaking Partnership: 170 by Jos Buttler and Alex Hales

England opening duo Jos Buttler and Alex Hales laid down one of the most dominating performances in the history of the T20 World Cup on 10th November 2022 at the Adelaide Oval, Australia, in the semi-final. The two batters showed incredible drive and poise as they chased the 169 runs set by India, reaching the total without dropping a single wicket. Their 170-run* partnership is still the most significant first-wicket partnership in T20 World Cup history.

How India Was Outclassed by Buttler & Hales

Hardik Pandya’s impressive finish of 63 off 33 balls and Virat Kohli’s steady innings of 50 off 40 balls helped India reach 168/6 in their 20 overs. But what appeared a formidable total at the start soon proved an easy target for England.

From the beginning itself, Alex Hales played aggressively, thrashing the Indian bowlers everywhere on the field. His 86 of 47 balls*, which included seven sixes and four fours, set the tone for England’s victory chase. England captain Jos Buttler, on the other hand, scored 80 of 49 balls*, three sixes, and nine fours in a masterly controlled innings.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Axar Patel were some Indian bowlers in the ranks who failed to breach the partnership. England clinched a 10-wicket victory and entered the final through the measured belligerence and fearless strokeplay of the pair, with nothing India could have done to alter the result. 

Some Outstanding First-Wicket Partnerships of the T20 World Cup Era

Apart from Buttler and Hales’s mythological partnership, several other opening combinations have left their impression in the history of the T20 World Cup. The following are a few of the tallest first-wicket stands:

• 152: Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan (India vs. Pakistan, 2021).

Pakistan defeated India in the 2021 T20 World Cup for the first time, thanks to an undefeated 152-run partnership between openers Muhammad Rizwan and Babar Azam in Dubai. Their effort set the tone for a record 10-wicket win.

• 145: Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka vs. West Indies, 2010)

At the 2010 T20 World Cup, Sri Lankan legends Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara routed the West Indies with their conventional stroke play, together scoring 145 runs.

• 134: Devon Smith and Chris Gayle (South Africa vs. West Indies, 2007)

Devon Smith and the great Chris Gayle put up a devastating 134-run partnership against South Africa in the first-ever 2007 T20 World Cup. Gayle continues to rank among the best individual performances in T20 World Cup history, with his scorching 117 off 57 balls.

The Significance of a Robust First-Wicket Partnership in Twenty20 Cricket

A strong first-wicket stand is crucial in Twenty20 cricket. It enables teams to make the most of the Powerplay through run-chase management or the creation of a high-scoring platform. Buttler-Hales, Rizwan-Babar, and Jayawardene-Sangakkara are some of the opening partnerships that showcase the importance of aggression and solidity in modern T20 cricket.

The highest first-wicket partnership of 170 by Buttler and Hales* is proof of England’s dominance in T20 cricket, which keeps on creating record-breaking stands and thrilling moments. The individuals who enjoy the fast game of T20 cricket are also able to feel the thrill off the pitch.

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