Vijayawada Sunrisers Set APL Record with 290 Runs, Crush Kakinada Kings

In a record-breaking performance in the Andhra Premier League (APL) 2026, the Vijayawada Sunrisers amassed a staggering 290 runs for the loss of just one wicket in their allotted 20 overs, setting a new league total record. Playing at the Kadapa venue on Sunday, June 22, 2026, the Sunrisers defeated the Kakinada Kings by a massive margin of 110 runs.

Openers Munangi Abhinav and captain Ashwin Hebbar unleashed a relentless assault on the Kakinada bowling attack. Abhinav remained unbeaten on 137 runs off just 69 balls, smashing 9 boundaries and 10 sixes. Hebbar scored a blistering 130 runs off 53 deliveries, which included 13 fours and 9 sixes, before being dismissed. The pair put on a monumental partnership of over 260 runs for the first wicket, laying the foundation for the highest total in APL history.

Chasing a daunting target of 291 runs, the Kakinada Kings struggled from the outset. Captain Manish Golamaru was dismissed without scoring, and early wickets, including Arjun Tendulkar for 17 and Abhishek Reddy for 9, derailed their chase. Despite fighting efforts from Pininti Tapaswi (27), Ommy Baswanth Krishna (30), Mitta Lekhaj Reddy (31), and Harishankar Reddy (20), the Kings could only manage 180 runs for 9 wickets in their 20 overs. B. Pranav Reddy was the pick of the Vijayawada bowlers, taking 3 wickets for 30 runs, while Thanneeru Bharat claimed two wickets.

Ashwin Hebbar has been in exceptional form throughout the season, amassing 478 runs in just six innings at an average of 79.67 and a striking strike rate of 216.29. The 30-year-old cricketer from Nellore has scored two centuries in the tournament and has a strong record in white-ball cricket, with 2,019 runs in List A matches and 1,803 runs in T20s. Having been previously picked by Delhi Capitals in the IPL without getting a game, Hebbar's current purple patch is expected to attract significant interest from franchises in the upcoming IPL 2027 mega auction.