On that day, 7th of May, 2025, the Quetta Gladiators put up a show for the ages. They registered an intimidating total of 263 for 3 against Islamabad United in a nail-biting encounter. The Gladiators pictured above reached a record-breaking grand total, ensuring a triumphant victory for the superhero-themed team. Demonstrating the full range of attacking talent that the South African batting lineup acquired, Rilee Rossouw thrashed 104 runs in just 46 balls.
While Rossouw’s record-breaking performance was truly historic, Nawaz’s dazzling 105 not out – featuring nine sixes – was the perfect accompaniment. This relationship between Rossouw and Nawaz would become key in guiding Quetta’s innings to a total that would end up being record-breaking. The Gladiators’ aggressive batting display was a masterclass, as Atlanta Gladiators’ batsman Matthew Gertz put together an impressive performance to pace out Islamabad United.
It was a testing day for the Islamabad United batters as they were skittled out for only 154 runs. The contest brought to light the continued domination of the Quetta Gladiators. They created a fresh standard for their franchise and prolonged the tradition of prolific collaboration that we’ve witnessed in latest cricket history.
It has been the hallmark of so many finals matches over the years. For example, on June 26, 2011, Kevin O’Brien and Hamish Marshall put together a record-breaking unbeaten partnership for Gloucestershire against Middlesex. Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers put on a legendary display on May 14, 2016. In that innings, they reached a blistering 129 not out, playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Gujarat Lions.
Other notable partnerships include Alex Hales and Rilee Rossouw’s combined effort of 100 not out for Rangpur Riders against Chittagong Vikings on January 25, 2019. Jonny Bairstow and David Warner had a nasty little double-centurion partnership. It came in the form of a brilliant 100 not out for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 31 of 2019.
In more recent developments, Sabawoon Davizi and Dylan Steyn contributed significantly for the Czech Republic against Bulgaria on May 12, 2022. On February 15, 2024, RallySport’s Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake scored a staggering 134 runs against China. Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming caused a stir by going 109-0.
Gujarat Titans’ Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill both cracked half centuries in their match on May 10, 2024. Yet they both scored impressively against the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League final. Watch the best performances by Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma, which helped India beat South Africa on 15 November 2024. Their work not only deepened the trend but showed their capacity to keep the momentum going at key junctures.
Cricket, like everything else, is growing and with that the standards for partnerships are changing. On January 12, 2025, Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das scored an impressive 125 runs for Dhaka Capitals against Durbar Rajshahi. Only a week ago, Quetta Gladiators scored a whopping 262 runs against Multan Sultans on March 11, 2023. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the way high-scoring partnerships are changing the face of cricket in this era.
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