SMAT: Baroda's Amit Passi equals world record for highest score on T20 debut with 44-ball ton

Hyderabad- Baroda wicketkeeper-batter Amit Passi equalled the world record for the highest score on T20 debut by smashing a scintillating 44-ball century in the final league-stage match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy here on Monday.

The 26-year-old scored a magnificent 114 off just 55 balls, hitting 10 fours and nine sixes, to power Baroda to a 13-run win over Services. His knock matched Pakistan’s Bilal Asif, who had scored 114 off 48 balls for Sialkot Stallions in a domestic T20 match in Faisalabad in May 2015, creating a joint world record for the highest individual score on a men’s T20 debut.

Passi is now only the third Indian batter to hit a century on T20 debut, after Punjab’s Shivam Bhambri and Hyderabad’s Akshath Reddy — with all three tons coming in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Filling in for India wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma, who left for national duty for the South Africa series, Passi opened the batting and produced a blistering performance against Services.

He stitched two crucial partnerships:

a 60-run stand for the third wicket with Shivalik Sharma, and

a quick 75-run partnership in just 32 balls with captain Vishnu Solanki.

These stands were instrumental in taking Baroda to a commanding total of 220/5 in 20 overs.

In reply, Services began aggressively with contributions from Kunwar Pathak (51), Ravi Chauhan (51), and Mohit Ahlawat (41). However, they could manage only 207/8, falling short by 13 runs.

Despite the impressive win, Baroda remain out of contention for a Super League berth from the tough Elite Group C.

The winners of the Punjab-Gujarat and Bengal-Haryana matches are set to progress from their respective groups.

Batting first, Haryana posted a target of 191 for Gujarat, thanks to captain Ankit Kumar’s 46 off 30 balls and Nishant Sindhu’s 48 off 31.

With inputs from IANS