Top 5 highest powerplay scores in men's T20I cricket

West Indies have two of the top five highest powerplay scores in T20I cricket.

The first six overs are crucial in T20I cricket because only two fielders are allowed out of the 30-yard (men’s) circle. It is the time when batting teams tend to go hard to capitalize on the powerplay field restrictions.

We have seen some tall scores by the teams in the powerplay in recent years. In the history of T20I cricket, twice a team has scored more than 100 runs in the powerplay. Here we will discuss the top five powerplay scores by a team in the T20I cricket.

List of the top five highest powerplay scores in T20I cricket:

5. West Indies – 92/1 vs Afghanistan, 2024

West Indies have been pioneers in utilizing the powerplay overs in T20Is. That’s why they have two of the top five powerplay scores. The fifth-highest powerplay score is 92/1, which they registered against Afghanistan at Gros Islet during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Batting first, West Indies made 92/1 in the first six overs as Nicholas Pooran played a tremendous innings of 98 off 53. West Indies finished with 218/4 and dismissed Afghanistan for 114 to win by 104 runs.

4. Ireland – 93/0 vs West Indies, 2020

Paul Stirling is a dangerous batter when he gets going as he can score quickly. One such instance was recorded in a T20I between Ireland and West Indies at St. George’s in January 2020. Ireland posted a big total of 208/7 courtesy of Stirling’s (95 off 47) onslaught.

He smashed a 20-ball fifty as Ireland scored 93/0 in the first six overs. In reply, West Indies reached 204/7 and lost by just 4 runs.

3. West Indies – 98/4 vs Sri Lanka, 2021

During a T20I between West Indies and Sri Lanka in March 2021 in Coolidge, Keiron Pollard hit six sixes in an over off Akila Dananjaya. That was the sixth over of West Indies’ innings and those six sixes took their powerplay score to 98.

Sri Lanka scored 131/9 in the first innings. In the second innings, Akila took a hat-trick in his first over, but in his very next over, Pollard hit six sixes. West Indies made 134/6 in 13.1 overs to win the game.

2. South Africa – 102/2 vs West Indies, 2023

The highest successful run chase in T20I cricket was registered by South Africa against West Indies when they chased down the target of 259 runs in Centurion in March 2023. In that game, South Africa became the first team to score over 100 runs in the powerplay.

Batting first, West Indies posted a massive score of 258/5. Johnson Charles made a 39-ball hundred. In reply, Quinton de Kock (100 off 44) and Reeza Hendricks (68 off 28) added 152 runs in just 10.5 overs. The openers piled up 102 runs in the powerplay, and South Africa finished with 259/4 in 18.5 overs to register the highest T20I chase.

1. Australia – 113/1 vs Scotland, 2024

Australia broke South Africa’s record and registered the highest powerplay score in T20I cricket against Scotland in Edinburgh on September 4, 2024. Scotland scored 154/9 in the first innings. In reply, Australia lost opener Jake Fraser McGurk for a three-ball duck.

But after that, Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh added 113 runs off just 28 balls for the second wicket. They reached 100 in the fifth over and ended the powerplay with 113/1. Head played a blistering knock of 80 off 25 and Marsh cracked 39 off 12. Australia made 156/3 runs in 9.4 overs and won by seven wickets.

(All stats updated till 5th September 2024)

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