Sharjah: Ronak Panoly of Gems Modern Academy created history in UAE’s inter-school domestic cricket tournament by scoring an epic unbeaten knock of 256 runs off just 72 balls against Millennium School, Dubai at the Skyline College cricket ground over the weekend.

Panoly hit 30 sixers and 14 boundaries and surprised everyone with his aggressive batting in the Maxtalent Gopal Sports-organised 11th edition MGS Vision Cup under-14 Twenty20 inter school tournament.

The record for the highest score in a Twenty20 match is held by Chris Gayle, who hit an unbeaten 175 off 66 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors at Bengaluru in 2013 while Australia’s Aaron Finch holds the record for the highest score in an Twenty20 International when he hit 156 off 63 balls against England at Southampton in 2013.

Only three days ago, a 19-year-old Mumbai batsman Rudra Dhanday had hit a 200 off just 67 balls in Mumbai University’s Inter-College Cricket T20 Tournament at the Matunga Gymkhana ground. He had hit 21 boundaries and 15 sixes.

According to renowned statistician Mohandas Menon, a 21-year-old Mohit Ahlawat had reportedly hit 300 off 72 balls with 39 sixes and 14 boundaries in a T20 match in February this year. The tournament, known as Friends Premier League, had no official status and was held in Delhi.

Panoly’s knock helped Modern Academy pile up 359 for 2 in 20 overs and register an emphatic 249-run victory over Millennium.

Speaking to Gulf News, Modern Academy team coach Mohammad Shafiq said: “Panoly is a naturally talented powerful hitter in front of the wicket. I have always encouraged him to go for his shots and this knock was unbelievable as he hit sixes with ease. He is our consistent batsman and had hit two centuries in the Batavia Memorial inter school cricket under 12 tournament too.”

Panoly, who used to train at Maxtalent Academy still plays for their team and had recently displayed top form while playing for Dubai Council’s under-16 and under 19 teams. Opening the innings, Panoly dominated the bowling right away. With his partner Rudra Mahadev who hit 28 runs they put on a 173 runs partnership. Skipper Varun Ravi chipped in with 45 runs. Chasing the mammoth score, Millennium were restricted to 110 for 3 in 20 overs.

The highest individual score in Maxtalent’s 11-year old tournament for boys was Shorye Chopra’s unbeaten 124 against Delhi Private School, Dubai in Under-17 tournament in 2014.

Brief scores: Gems Modern Academy bt The Millennium School, Dubai by 249 runs. Modern Academy 359 for 2 in 20 overs (Ronak Panoly 256, Varun Ravi45, Rudra Mahadev 28, Jonathan 2 for 55) Millennium School 110 for 3 in 20 overs. (M. Muzamil 34, Varun Kumar 23, Abdullah Tariq 20) Player of the match: Ronak Panoly.