Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt create Twenty20 record

In a domestic game, they feature in the highest opening partnership in Twenty20s - 209.

Published : Nov 25, 2017 16:24 IST

 Kamran Akmal (left) and Salman Butt scored 209 for the first wicket.
Kamran Akmal (left) and Salman Butt scored 209 for the first wicket.
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Kamran Akmal (left) and Salman Butt scored 209 for the first wicket.

A Twenty20 record has briefly brought the spotlight back on Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt. The duo put together an unbeaten opening partnership of 209 for Lahore Whites in a domestic match against Islamabad, this is now the highest opening partnership in Twenty20s. Akmal, the player of the match, scored 150 off 71 balls, with 14 fours and 12 sixes, while Butt scored 55 off 49 balls, as their team registered a 109-run victory in the National T20 Cup. Whites leads the points table with five wins in seven matches.

The earlier record was possessed by Joe Denly and Daniel Bell-Drummond, who had put together 207 runs for the first wicket, for Kent in the Natwest T20 Blast earlier this year.

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Butt has impressed upon his return to domestic cricket following a period of ban as punishment for being caught in a spot-fixing scandal in 2010. The former Pakistan captain currently averages 113 in the ongoing tourney, with three half-centuries. He has done well in the other formats as well, with the bat. He led his domestic side Water and Power Development Authority to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title last season.

Akmal, currently the leading run-getter in the ongoing Twenty20 event, has been playing for Pakistan in the shorter formats, but last played Tests for his country in 2010. Akmal and Butt were regular openers then, months before the fixing scandal that shook Pakistan’s cricket.

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