Top 3 highest partnerships in a T20 league final ft. Rilee Rossouw & Kusal Mendis
The Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 saw Rilee Rossouw and Kusal Mendis strike a magnificent, unbeaten partnership in the final on Sunday to help the Jaffna Kings clinch their fourth LPL title.
There have been several record-breaking partnerships in T20 leagues across the globe and throughout the years. However, beating the pressure and scoring the big runs in finals takes some courage to pull off.
There have been multiple instances, however, where players have registered massive partnerships in finals of various T20 leagues over the years. Let us take a look at the top 3 highest partnerships in the finals of these leagues.
Top 3 highest partnerships in a T20 league final
#3 Michael Hussey & Murali Vijay, 159 runs, IPL 2011 final
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bagged their second Indian Premier League (IPL) title back when they beat Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 28, 2011.
Batting first, CSK put up a daunting total of 205/5 on the board from their 20 overs. They then restricted Bangalore to just 147/8, winning by 58 runs.
CSK openers Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay set the tone. The duo stitched a 159-run partnership for the opening stand before Hussey was dismissed in the 15th over. Hussey scored a 45-ball 63 while Vijay struck a 52-ball 95, ensuring that it was a one-sided affair eventually.
#2 Rilee Rossouw & Kusal Mendis: 185* runs, LPL 2024 final
In the recently concluded LPL final, Rilee Rossouw and Kusal Mendis wreaked havoc with the bat.
Batting first, Galle Marvels got to a decent total of 184/6 in their 20 overs. Jaffna Kings lost opener Pathum Nissanka for zero on the very first ball of their run-chase.
However, Rossouw and Mendis joined forces to script history. Rossouw slammed a terrific unbeaten ton, scoring 106 runs off just 53 deliveries, striking at 200. Mendis complimented him perfectly, scoring an unbeaten 40-ball 72 on the other end. The duo put up a match-winning, unbeaten 185-run stand to record the second-highest partnership in a T20 league final.
As a result, the Jaffna Kings overhauled the target comfortably in just 15.4 overs with nine wickets to spare, lifting the team's fourth title.
#1 Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum: 201 runs, BPL 2017 final
The 'Gayle Storm' struck Bangladesh during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2017 final.
Rangpur Riders were up against the Dhaka Dynamites in the final of the 2017 edition at Mirpur on December 12. Batting first, Rangpur posted a mammoth total of 206/1.
Johnson Charles was dismissed early for just 3 runs when Brendon McCullum joined Chris Gayle at the crease. Gayle unleashed his very best on the night as he scored a swashbuckling, unbeaten 69-ball 146.
While Gayle showed no mercy, McCullum played second fiddle, supporting him with a crucial, unbeaten 43-ball 51. The duo slammed an unbeaten 201-run stand to set up the game for Rangpur. They then held Dhaka at 149/9 to clinch the trophy by a comfortable margin of 57 runs in the end.
This also remains the highest partnership in the final of a T20 league till date.