On this day in 2016 – Australia post 263 runs against Sri Lanka in a T20I

T20 cricket has gained massive popularity over the years with the games being crisp and fast-paced. With an innings comprising just 20 overs, batters have the liberty to be aggressive and look for boundaries. Owing to the same, we see the ball flying here and there in a T20 match. One such match where bowlers got a lot of hammering was played on this very day (September 6) in 2016.

Australia and Sri Lanka battled it out in the contest and the venue was the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele. It was the first T20I of the two-match series and Australia scripted history. They posted the then highest team score in T20 Internationals, 263/3. All the credit goes to Glenn Maxwell as the dasher unleashed mayhem against the Sri Lankan bowlers.

Glenn Maxwell slams a sensational century

With Aaron Finch not being available, Maxwell opened the innings alongside stand-in skipper David Warner while batting first. The dasher wasted no time whatsoever and went after the Lankan bowlers from the outset. From Sachithra Senanayake to Thisara Perera, no Lankan bowler escaped from Maxwell’s wrath that day.

Meanwhile, skipper Warner also played some delightful shots in the powerplay overs but fell prey to Senanayake after scoring a 16-ball 28. Nevertheless, Maxwell got another substantial partner in Usman Khawaja and the home team’s struggle continued. Although Khawaja also played some brilliant shots, he allowed Maxwell to do most of the talking.

In the process, Maxwell also advanced to his maiden T20I century, and that too off just 49 balls. As a result, Australia reached the 200-run mark in just 16.3 overs. However, the final onslaught was yet to come. Khawaja’s (32) departure brought Travis Head in the middle and the youngster played a brilliant cameo.

Both Maxwell and Head rained boundaries and maximums in the last few overs as the Aussies posted a mountain of 263/3. While the opener remained unbeaten at 145 off 65 balls, Head scored an 18-ball 45. Chasing the mountain, Sri Lanka did put up a substantial fight but were restricted to 178/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Hence, they lost the game by 85 runs.

Meanwhile, Australia’s total that day is currently second in the list of highest team scores in T20Is. In 2019, Czech Republic scored 278/4 in Turkey. The same year, Afghanistan also posted 278/3 against Ireland.