T20 internationals have become the face of cricket globally. It has taken this sport to new heights and brought more than 100 countries to take part in this sport. A number of teams across the world have started playing T20I cricket, which is why we keep on seeing new records getting set every now and then.
This article is also related to one such start, where we will talk about the highest total in T20 internationals. The shorter format is full of surprises. It has given matches where the whole team has been bowled out for ten runs, and a team went on to cross the 300-run mark as well. Hence, this blog will include the top ten highest totals in T20I history. You might find some associate nations on this list, but that’s where the game has grown.
List of Top 10 Totals in T20I cricket
| Team | Score | Overs | RR | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe | 344/4 | 20 | 17.2 | v Gambia | Nairobi (Ruaraka) | 23 Oct 2024 |
| Nepal | 314/3 | 20 | 15.7 | v Mongolia | Hangzhou | 27 Sep 2023 |
| India | 297/6 | 20 | 14.85 | v Bangladesh | Hyderabad | 12 Oct 2024 |
| Zimbabwe | 286/5 | 20 | 14.3 | v Seychelles | Nairobi (Gym) | 19 Oct 2024 |
| Afghanistan | 278/3 | 20 | 13.9 | v Ireland | Dehradun | 23 Feb 2019 |
| Czech Republic | 278/4 | 20 | 13.9 | v Turkey | Ilfov County | 30 Aug 2019 |
| Malaysia | 268/4 | 20 | 13.4 | v Thailand | Hangzhou | 2 Oct 2023 |
| England | 267/3 | 20 | 13.35 | v West Indies | Tarouba | 19 Dec 2023 |
| Australia | 263/3 | 20 | 13.15 | v Sri Lanka | Pallekele | 6 Sep 2016 |
13. Czech Republic – 258/2 vs Bulgaria in 2022
In the history of T20I cricket, 16 times a team has crossed the 250-run mark and it will increase in coming years. The tenth highest total in T20I cricket is registered with Czech Republic. It was recorded during the Valletta Cup 2022 against Bulgaria in May 2022 at Marsa.
This was one of the rarest occasions when both openers scored a century each. Dylan Steyn and Sabawoon Davizi added the fourth-highest T20I stand of 220 runs. Steyn made 106 off 55, and Davizi scored 115* off 59 balls. Czech Republic went on to score a massive total of 258/2. Bulgaria ended with 170/7 and lost by 88 runs.
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12. South Africa – 259/4 vs West Indies in 2023
South Africa hold the record for the highest successful run chase in T20I cricket. They did it against West Indies in Centurion in March 2023. It was a high-scoring thriller. West Indies batted first and scored 258/5, courtesy of a 39-ball century from Evin Lewis (118 off 46). West Indies’ 258/5 is the 11th highest T20I total overall.
Chasing the score, South Africa had a flying start, and Reeza Hendricks (68 off 28) and Quinton de Kock added 152 runs in just 10.5 overs. De Kock registered a 43-ball century and made 100 off 44 balls, with nine fours and 8 sixes. South Africa made 259/4 in 18.4 overs and registered the highest ever T20I chase.
11. India – 260/5 vs Sri Lanka in 2017
Who can forget the 35-ball ton by Rohit Sharma against Sri Lanka? India posted their highest T20I total in that game. Batting first, India got a brilliant start as KL Rahul (89 off 49) and Rohit added 165 runs in 12.4 overs for the first wicket.
Rohit went berserk and scored 118 off 43 balls with 12 fours and 10 sixes. India finished with 260/5 in the first innings. Sri Lanka tried hard and reached a total of 172 in 17.2 overs, losing by 88 runs.
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10. Sri Lanka – 260/2 vs Kenya in 2007
Sri Lanka hold the record for the highest total in the T20 World Cup history. They did it in the inaugural edition in 2007 in South Africa. They registered it against Kenya in Johannesburg. Batting first, Sri Lanka posted a massive total of 260/6 in the first inning. Sanath Jayasuriya (88 off 44) and captain Mahela Jayawardene (65 off 27) scored half-centuries. Jehan Mubarak played a brilliant cameo of 46 off 13 in the end. In reply, Kenya were bowled out for just 88 runs, and Sri Lanka won by 172 runs.
9. Australia – 263/3 vs Sri Lanka in 2016
Australia have registered the sixth highest total in T20I cricket. It came against Sri Lanka in September 2016 in Pallekele. This was the first game of the series, and the first innings saw one of the best innings from Glenn Maxwell. The Australian star registered the fourth-highest individual score in T20I.
He came to open the innings and slammed a 49-ball ton. Maxwell scored an unbeaten 145 off 65 balls, with 14 fours and nine sixes. Australia made 263/3 in the first inning. Sri Lanka scored 178/9 in the second innings and lost by 85 runs.
8. England – 267/3 vs West Indies in 2023
England hold the record for the highest total in T20 internationals among full-members. They recorded it against West Indies in December 2023 in Tarouba. England had some brilliant batting performances led by Phil Salt. He slammed a century and made 119 off 57 balls.
Jos Buttler (55 off 29) and Liam Livingstone (54 off 21) scored half-centuries. England finished at 267/3 in 20 overs. In reply, West Indies got all out for 192 runs, and England won by 75 runs.
7. Malaysia – 268/4 vs Thailand in 2023
Malaysia have registered the fourth highest total in T20I cricket. They had this moment registered against Thailand during the Asian Games 2023 at Hangzhou. Opener Syed Aziz gave Malaysia a good start and scored 126 runs off 56 balls, with 13 fours and nine sixes.
With other batters playing some good cameo, Malaysia reached a total of 268/4 in 20 overs. In reply, Thailand only managed 74/9 and Malaysia won by 194 runs, which is the fifth highest win margin in T20I cricket.
6. Czech Republic – 278/4 vs Turkey in 2019
Czech Republic are the only team to feature in the top ten list twice. They recorded the third-highest total in T20I cricket. This was a record-breaking game against Turkey duringthe Continental Cup 2019 at Ilfov County. Sumit Pokhriyal started the inning with a 52-ball 79, but the real carnage was made by Sudesh Wickramasekara.
He came out to bat at no. 5 and slammed an unbeaten 35-ball century. Sudesh scored 104 off 36 balls, with 8 fours and ten sixes. His innings pushed Czech Republic to a total of 278/4. Turkey had a horrible day, as with the bat they got all out for 21 runs, and Czech Republic registered the second-biggest win margin of 257 runs.
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5. Afghanistan – 278/3 vs Ireland in 2019
Hazratullah Zazai is one of two batters who has scored 150 or more in a T20I innings. He did it against Ireland in February 2019 in Dehradun. That was the game when Afghanistan recorded the second-highest total in T20i cricket. Batting first, Usman Ghani and Hazratullah Zazai registered the second-biggest T20I partnership of 236 runs for the first wicket.
Ghani made 73 off 48 while Zazai kept hitting boundaries on the other hand. He made a 42-ball ton and scored 162* off 62 balls, with 11 fours and 16 sixes. Afghanistan reached 278/3 in 20 overs. Ireland fought hard but only reached 194/6, losing by 84 runs.
4. Zimbabwe – 286/5 vs Seychelles in 2024
Zimbabwe also displayed their batting prowess by scoring 286/5 against Seychelles during the qualifier. Brian Bennett led the charge with a stunning 91 off 35 balls, while Tadiwanashe Marumani contributed 86 off 37. Zimbabwe won the match comfortably by 76 runs (DLS method), as Seychelles struggled to chase a target of 95 runs, finishing at just 18/2 in 6.1 overs.
3. India- 297/6 vs Bangladesh in 2024
In another thrilling match, India recorded the Third-highest score in men’s T20I history, posting 297/6 against Bangladesh in Hyderabad. Sanju Samson with a 40-ball century, the second-fastest by an Indian and first Indian wicketkeeper-batter to score a T20I century, supported by Suryakumar Yadav (75 off 35) and Hardik Pandya (47 off 18). This total is the highest ever by a full-member team, surpassing Afghanistan’s 278/3 against Ireland in 2019.
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2. Nepal – 314/3 vs Mongolia in 2023
Nepal hold the record for the highest total and biggest win margin in T20I cricket. These records came in the same game, which turned out to be one of the rarest matches of all time. Batting first, Nepal became the first ever country to cross the 300-run mark. They made a massive 314/3 in the first innings. Nepal did well with the ball as well. They dismissed Mongolia for just 41 runs and won the game by 273 runs. Nepal recorded the highest T20I total and biggest win margin in his game. Kushal Malla registered a 34-ball ton and made 137 off 50 balls. Dipendra Singh Airee slammed the fastest T20I fifty off just nine balls and made 52 off 10. There were some other recorded as well, which were broken in this game.
1. Zimbabwe – 344/4 vs Gambia in 2024
Zimbabwe has set a new world record for the highest T20I total, scoring an incredible 344/4 against Gambia in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub Regional Qualifier B. Sikandar Raza led the charge with a stunning 133 not out off just 43 balls, hitting 15 sixes and achieving the joint-second-fastest century in T20I history in 33 balls. This total surpassed Nepal’s previous record of 314/3 and included a remarkable 27 sixes, the most ever in a T20I match. Zimbabwe’s performance marks a significant moment for the team in the shorter format of the game.
