A partnership is very vital in the game of cricket. Even in T20s, a good opening partnership sets the game for the batting team. And if the team gets a good opening partnership, then the rest of the batters can come in and score quickly. That is why a big partnership at the top puts the batting side in the driving seat.
Another season of excitement is coming for the fans with the next season of the Caribbean Premier League just a couple of weeks away. The CPL is one of the most popular leagues in the world. It is because some explosive and dangerous batters are in this tournament. And in this article, we will discuss the highest partnerships for the first wicket in the CPL.
3. Lendl Simmons and Martin Guptill (138* runs) against Jamaica Tallawahs in 2014
The third highest opening partnership came in the 2014 season. It was the second semi-final of the season between Jamaica Tallawahs and Guyana Amazon Warriors at Basseterre. Guyana won the toss and chose to bowl first. Jamaica had an opening stand of 55 runs in 9.3 overs and other batters as well couldn’t pick up the run rate. In the end, Jamaica could only manage 134/6 in their 20 overs, which was a below-par total.
Chadwick Walton was the high scorer, making 34 runs off 35 balls. It was never going to be a big total for any team, and that’s what happened. Guyana openers made a mockery of the small target. Both batters chased down the target in just 14.5 overs, and that too without losing any wickets. Lendl Simmons was unbeaten on 71 off 43, while Martin Guptill made 66 off 46 balls. Jamaica won the match by 10 wickets and entered the final.
2. Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher (139 runs) against Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2014
Interestingly, the highest and second-highest opening partnerships in the CPL came in the same match. It was the 26th game of the 2014 season between Guyana Amazon Warriors and St. Lucia Zouks at Basseterre. After winning the toss, Guyana chose to bowl first. Batting first, St. Lucia had an excellent start to their batting innings. Both openers looked good and scored their respective half-centuries. Both batsmen added 139 runs for the first wicket in 15.3 overs.
This was the highest stand in the CPL, but it only remained the highest for that innings because the record was broken in the following innings. Johnson Charles made 62 runs off 46 balls with three fours and three sixes. Andre Fletcher scored 78 off 49 runs, five fours and five sixes. St. Lucia made 189/7 in their 20 overs. Despite a big total, they were not able to defend it and Guyana chased it down in 19 overs and made 194/2 to win the game by 8 wickets. The second highest opening stand came in a losing cause.
1. Lendl Simmons and Martin Guptill (154 runs) against St. Lucia (Highest opening stand in CPL)
Lendl Simmons and Martin Guptill are again on the list with the highest opening partnership in the CPL. In the 26th game of the 2014 season between Guyana Amazon Warriors and St. Lucia Zouks, batting first, St. Locia made 189/7 in their 20 overs. Johnson Charles made 62 while Andre Fletcher scored 68 runs. It looked like a very competitive total. But what followed next was just an amazing display of power-hitting.
The Guyana openers came in a mood to chase the order by themselves and kept on hitting the boundaries. Both Lendl Simmons and Martin Guptill added 154 runs for the first wicket in 16.6 overs to help their team reach close to the target. Simmons was unfortunate to have missed his century and got run out on 97 runs off 60 balls with five fours and eight sixes. Guptill scored 66 off 47 balls with six fours and two fours. Guyana chased down the target with one over to spare and won the match by eight wickets.
List of Highest First Wicket Partnership in CPL
| Pair | Runs | Team | Against | Ground | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lendl Simmons and Martin Guptill | 154 | Amazon | Zouks | Basseterre | 10 Aug 2014 |
| Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher | 139 | Zouks | Amazon | Basseterre | 10 Aug 2014 |
| Lendl Simmons and Martin Guptill | 138* | Amazon | Tallawahs | Basseterre | 14 Aug 2014 |
| Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis | 129* | Patriots | Tridents | Bridgetown | 3 Sep 2017 |
| Kevin ‘O Brien and Evin Lewis | 129 | Red Steel | Zouks | Port of Spain | 27 Jul 2014 |
| Chris Gayle and CAK Walton | 121* | Tallawahs | Zouks | Gros Islet | 28 Jun 2015 |
| Chris Gayle and CAK Walton | 119 | Tallawahs | Zouks | Kingston | 7 Jul 2015 |
| Devon Thomas and Evin Lewis | 113 | Patriots | Amazon | Basseterre | 28 Aug 2021 |
| Andre Fletcher and RRS Cornwall | 111 | Zouks | Tallawahs | Kingston | 12 Sep 2019 |
| Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis | 110 | Patriots | Tallawahs | Basseterre | 21 Aug 2017 |