200 in a T20I Match is like getting 350 in an ODI Match. It is not easy at all to hit 200 in 20 overs but the rate at which teams are getting to this milestone is a dangerous sign for all the bowlers around the world. They will have to come up with better deliveries to restrict the flow of runs. The first time that 200 was scored in a T20I Match was in the year 2005 and it was in just the 3rd T20I Match ever played. In 2005, nobody knew what this was and 18+ years since this format has become the format which has made cricket into a multi billion dollar industry.

Let’s talk about the first time 200 was scored by a team in T20I Cricket

Australia get in the record books again

It was just the 3rd T20I that was ever played and it was played on 17th February 2005 meaning the 19 year anniversary of this is just a month away. It was a match between Australia and New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland. These were 2 of the best in this format and this was a blockbuster match. Australia were batting first and they made full use of their 20 overs. The openers got out cheaply but it was the middle order that was mainly Ricky Ponting who helped Australia make history yet again. Andrew Symonds made a valuable 32 Runs from 13 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes meaning 28 runs in boundaries. It was Ricky Ponting who played an incredible knock. He made a brilliant 98 runs not out from just 55 balls.

Ricky Ponting was in a mood that day and he was destroying every New Zealand bowler. He smashed 8 fours and 5 sixes in this innings meaning 62 runs were made in boundaries. He had a strike rate of 179 in this innings. He was not out on 98 as he was not able to get to his century. Then in the lower Order it was Simon Katich who had Michael Hussey who made 30 and 31 runs each and they hit 3 fours and 4 sixes. Australia at the end of 20 overs had created history and they made 214 runs for the loss of 5 wickets.

Find out here First 5 wicket haul in T20I Cricket

Top Performers

Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting was undoubtedly the best performer of the innings as he played the best innings of his T20I career and he showed the world that he can play the shortest format of cricket and he can smash at a strike rate of 180 and get his team over 200. Ricky Ponting hit 08 runs not out and he in the year 2005 had set the standard for all future cricketers. He hit 8 fours and 5 big sixes in this Match.

In the second innings New Zealand were only able to make 170 runs and they were all out and Australia won the match by 44 runs. Scott Styris made 66 runs from 39 balls and he hit 5 fours and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 170. This match was a great match and it had set the platform for T20I cricket and as the years went by all the teams started taking this format seriously.

Also Read: First Centurion in T20I Cricket