File image of Prabhsimran Singh and Abhishek Sharma.©
Punjab's opening duo Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh etched their names in the record books with a monumental partnership during their Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Saurashtra at the Gujarat College Cricket Ground in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. The pair added a whopping 298 runs for the first wicket, equaling the tournament's second-highest opening partnership set by Bangladesh's Sudip Gharami and Abhimanyu Easwaran in 2022.
Abhishek and Prabhsimran's partnership, based on an aggressive approach, laid a solid foundation for Punjab's innings. Prabhsimran was the first to reach his century, eventually scoring 125 runs off 95 balls, demonstrating his trademark flair with 15 boundaries and three sixes. His partner, Abhishek, was even more dominant, amassing 170 runs off just 96 deliveries. His innings featured 22 fours and eight towering sixes, leaving the Saurashtra bowlers with no answers.
Their electrifying stand propelled Punjab past 300 in the 32nd over, putting the team on course for a huge total.
Taking advantage of the momentum created by the openers, Punjab ended their innings at a colossal 424 for five. This total is now the fifth highest in the history of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, equaling Madhya Pradesh's 424 against Nagaland in 2022.
Punjab also became only the ninth team in the history of the tournament to cross the 400-run mark.
The record for the highest total in the league still belongs to Tamil Nadu, who scored an unprecedented 506/2 against Arunachal Pradesh in 2022.
Abhishek and Prabhsimran's stand joins an elite list of partnerships in Indian domestic cricket. The record for the highest opening partnership in the Vijay Hazare Trophy – and for all List A cricket – remains the 416-run stand of Tamil Nadu's N. Jagadeesan and B. Sai Sudharsan, achieved in 2022.
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