T20 cricket is generally known as the batters’ game. Although we have seen many great bowling performances as well as strong battles between the batters and bowlers, this format has also experienced some destructive batting performances. In this article, we are going through the top five highest T20I totals.
Highest T20I totals
Team | Total (Overs) | Opposition | Venue | Date |
Zimbabwe | 344/4 (20) | Gambia | Nairobi (Ruaraka) | 23 October 2024 |
Nepal | 314/3 (20) | Mongolia | Hangzhou | 27 September 2023 |
India | 297/6 (20) | Bangladesh | Hyderabad | 12 October 2024 |
Zimbabwe | 286/5 (20) | Seychelles | Nairobi (Gym) | 19 October 2024 |
Afghanistan | 278/3 (20) | Ireland | Dehradun | 23 February 2019 |
Czech Republic | 278/4 (20) | Turkey | Ilfov County | 30 August 2019 |
Brief details of highest T20I totals
6. Czech Republic (278/4)
In August 2019, the Czech Republic equalled the highest T20I total record. Against Turkey, the Czech Republic scored 278/4 in 20 overs. Openers Honey Gori (32) and Sumit Pokhriyal had a 70-run partnership for the first wicket. Pokhriyal scored 79 off 52 balls with 12 fours and two sixes.
However, the original star was Sudesh Wickramasekara, who scored 104 not out off just 36 balls with the help of eight fours and ten sixes. He recorded a 35-ball century, which equalled the record for the fastest T20I century at that time.
Turkey were all out for only 21 runs, as the Czech Republic won that match by 257 runs, the largest T20I winning margin (by runs) at that time.
5. Afghanistan (278/3)
It was the second game of the three-match T20I series between Afghanistan and Ireland at Dehradun. After winning the toss, Afghanistan chose to bat first and scored the highest T20I total at that time with 278/3 in 20 overs. Opener Hazratullah Zazai scored a 42-ball century and recorded the second-highest individual score in T20I history, 162 not out off just 62 balls with the help of 11 fours and 16 sixes.
He had a 236-run opening partnership with Usman Ghani, who scored 73 off 48 balls with seven fours and three sixes. It was the highest partnership for any wicket at that time.
In reply, Ireland scored 194/6 in 20 overs, and Afghanistan secured the series with a 2-0 lead after winning by 84 runs.
4. Zimbabwe (286/5)
During the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier Group B match between Zimbabwe and Seychelles, Zimbabwe batted first after losing the toss and scored 286/5 in 20 overs. Zimbabwe openers Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani set a 145-run partnership for the first wicket inside the first ten overs. While Bennett scored 91 off just 35 balls (eight fours and seven sixes), Marumani scored 86 off 37 balls with ten fours and five sixes.
The next batters played some great cameos to set a record T20I total for Zimbabwe, which was the third-highest T20I total at that time.
3. India (297/3)
During the Hyderabad T20I between India and Bangladesh, the hosts India managed a total of 297/6 in 20 overs. The wicketkeeper-batter and opener Sanju Samson recorded his first T20I hundred and fourth T20 century by scoring 111 runs off 47 balls with the help of 11 fours and eight sixes. He recorded a 40-ball century, the second-fastest T20I hundred by an Indian batter.
Also, the skipper Suryakumar Yadav scored 75 off 35 balls with eight fours and five sixes. The next batters Riyan Parag and Hardik Pandya scored 34 off 13 balls (one four and four sixes) and 47 off 18 balls (four fours and four sixes), respectively.
In reply, Bangladesh were restricted to 164/7 in 20 overs. India won that match by 133 runs and completed the home series with a 3-0 win.
2. Nepal (314/3)
During the first match of the Asian Games 2023, Nepal thrashed Mongolia bowlers to record the first 300+ total in T20 cricket history. This match experienced many top T20 records.
Kushal Malla was the main hero in that innings by scoring a 34-ball century, the fastest T20 hundred at that time, and ended that innings with 137 not out in just 50 balls with the help of eight fours and 12 sixes.
Also, the skipper Rohit Paudel scored 61 runs off 27 balls with two fours and six sixes. Dipendra Singh Airee also scored 52 not out off 10 balls with eight sixes as he recorded the fastest T20I half-century by reaching it in nine balls.
Nepal scored 314/3 in 20 overs. In reply, Mongolia were all out for only 41 runs, as Nepal won the match by 273 runs, the largest victory margin (by runs) in T20 cricket history.
1. Zimbabwe (344/3)
During the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier Group B in October 2024, Zimbabwe became the second team to score 300+ runs in T20 cricket history, which also set a new record for the highest total in T20 cricket history. During the match against Gambia, Zimbabwe scored 344/3 in 20 overs.
Openers Brian Bennett (50 off 26 balls; seven fours and one six) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (62 off 19 balls; nine fours and four sixes) scored half-centuries in the match. Marumani scored a 13-ball fifty, the joint third-fastest T20I half-century.
Captain Sikandar Raza scored 133 not out off 43 balls with the help of seven fours and 15 sixes. He completed his century in just 33 balls, the joint second-fastest T20I century. It was also the first T20I century by a Zimbabwean batter. Also, Clive Madande was not out on 53 runs off 17 balls (three fours and five sixes).
The match had many more records, including Zimbabwe’s victory by 290 runs (Gambia 54 all out), which was also the record for the largest winning margin in T20 cricket history.
