Record-breaking T20 provides 497 runs

A remarkable 497 runs were racked up during the latest match of New Zealand's domestic T20 competition, the Super Smash, Otago skipper Hamish Rutherford and the Stags' veteran former Sri Lanka international Mahela Jayawardene leading the way with 106 and 116 respectively.

Veteran Sri Lankan Mahela Jayawardene's blistering 56-ball innings ultimately proved in vain as Otago sneaked home by one run in a thrilling finale.

Pukekura Park in New Plymouth was the venue for a barrage of boundaries on Wednesday as the Otago Volts and Central Stags combined to produce the heaviest-scoring professional Twenty20 fixture in history.

A remarkable 497 runs were racked up during the latest match of New Zealand's domestic T20 competition, the Super Smash, Otago skipper Hamish Rutherford and the Stags' veteran former Sri Lanka international Mahela Jayawardene leading the way with 106 and 116 respectively.

The previous record total of runs in a T20 match was 489, in an international between India and West Indies in the United States earlier this year.

Jayawardene's blistering 56-ball innings ultimately proved in vain as Otago sneaked home by one run in a thrilling finale, its total of 249-3 proving just enough as Neil Wagner held his nerve in the last over to limit the Stags to 248-4.

Five bowlers gave up 50 runs or more in their four-over stints, with Ryan McCone (0-57) taking the most severe punishment in a contest that provided 38 fours and 34 sixes.