Cricket is a team game. The players in a team need to complement each other. Often the batting team is in a difficult position. In such situations, the batters try to build a partnership and not lose any more wickets. When a partnership starts to bud, the bowling team feels the pressure. Often this pressure causes the bowling team to panic. A batting partnership can break the rhythm of the bowling team. In T20I cricket, in which runs usually come very fast, one partnership can prove to be decisive. Here are the Top 10 Biggest Partnerships in T20I Cricket-

1. Hazratullah Zazai - Usman Ghani (236)

Afghanistan clashed with Ireland in the Second T20I in 2019 at Dehradun. Afghanistan won the toss and rightly elected to bat first. The opening pair of Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani stitched the highest-ever T20I partnership. Their stand propelled Afghanistan to the highest T20I total of 278/3. While Ghani scored 73 runs (48 balls), Zazai smashed the second-highest individual T20I score (162*). He also hit 16 sixes, the most by a batter in a single inning. In the second inning, Rashid Khan took 4 wickets to derail the Irish run-chase. Afghanistan won the match by 84 runs.

2. Aaron Finch – D’Arcy Short (223)

In 2018, Zimbabwe, Australia, and Pakistan contested in a T20 tri-series in Zimbabwe. In the third match, Zimbabwe decided to invite Australia to bat. This was a decision they were going to regret later. Australian opening duo of Aaron Finch and D’Arcy Short amassed 223 runs in 19.2 overs. Finch’s 172-run play was laced with 16 fours (most by a player in a T20I inning) and 10 sixes. This was the highest-ever individual score in a T20I match. D’Arcy Short anchored the innings with a 46-run knock. Chasing the target of 230, Zimbabwe could manage only 129/9.

3. George Munsey – Kyle Coetzer (200)

Scotland locked horns with the Netherlands in 2019 at Dublin. Batting first, Scottish openers George Munsey and Kyle Coetzer added 200 runs in 15.1 overs. Munsey scored 127*, the highest T20I individual score by a Scottish batter. Captain Coetzer scored 89. Their pyrotechnics helped Scotland post 252/3, which is their highest T20I score. Later, Scotland won the match by 58 runs.

4. Babar Azam – Mohammad Rizwan (197)

South Africa hosted a T20I against Pakistan in 2021 at Centurion. South Africa batted first and scored 203/5. While chasing, the Pakistani opening pair of Mohammad Rizwan and captain Babar Azam put together 197 runs in 17.4 overs. The duo made the run-chase look very easy. Azam scored his career-best 122 runs. Pakistan prevailed by 9 wickets with 12 balls to spare. This is the second-highest target successfully chased by Pakistan in T20I cricket.

5. Devon Conway – Glenn Philips (184 runs)

West Indies toured New Zealand in 2020. In the Second T20I, West Indies chose fielding after winning the toss. After 6.2 overs New Zealand was 53/2. The third-wicket pair of Devon Conway and Glenn Philips stitched 184 runs to propel their team to 238/3. The Kiwi bowlers then stopped West Indies on 166/9 to win the match by 72 runs.

6. Dawid Malan – Eoin Morgan (182)

England and New Zealand played a T20I in Napier in 2019. The hosts New Zealand chose to field first. The second wicket after 7.2 overs brought Dawid Malan and captain Eoin Morgan together. The duo added 182 runs to power England to 241/3. Malan scored a century while Morgan hit 91 runs. New Zealand was bowled out on 165 in the second innings.

7. Balaji Pai – Louis Bruce (172*)

Gibraltar and Bulgaria clashed in a Valetta Cup 2021 match in 2021. Bulgaria won the toss and chose to bowl first. Gibraltar’s openers Balaji Pai and Louis Bruce put on 172 runs for the first wicket. Balaji Pai got retired hurt to bring an end to the partnership. But their stand powered Gibraltar to 217/4. Bulgaria could manage just 180/5 to hand Gibraltar a 37-run victory.

8. Martin Guptill – Kane Williamson (171*)

Pakistan landed in Hamilton to play a T20I against New Zealand in 2016. Riding on Umar Akmal’s quickfire 56 runs (27 balls), Pakistan posted a competitive 168/7. New Zealand chased down the target quite comfortably. Openers Martin Guptill (87*) and Kane Williamson (72*) climbed the mountain in 17.4 overs to hand the Kiwis a 10-wicket victory.

9. Graeme Smith – Loots Bosman (170)

The second T20I of the England tour of South Africa 2009 was held at Centurion. The South African opening pair of captain Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman put together 170 runs to start the proceedings. Both of them were unfortunate to miss out on a well-deserved century. But they made sure that South Africa posted a substantial total of 241/6. England could manage just 157/8 in 20 overs. South Africa won the match by 84 runs.

10. Jos Buttler – Dawid Malan (167*)

England played a T20I against South Africa in 2020 at Cape Town. Batting first, the Proteas rode on half-centuries from Faf du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen to post 191/3. England chased down the target losing just one wicket. The second-wicket partnership between Jos Buttler (67* from 46) and Dawid Malan (99* from 47) was worth 167 runs.