Top 10 highest team totals in T20I cricket (Among test playing nations)

Zimbabwe hold the record of highest team total in T20I cricket.

T20 format has brought a new dimension to the game of cricket and has thrown away the old pattern of textbook game play. Teams go searching for boundaries in the entire 120 balls of play while batting. No score looks secure or small in this format of the game. It has created a huge fanbase, who love to watch big boundaries scored.

Only twice 300+ has been scored in a T20I match till now. Nepal were the first ever side to achieve the feat, while Zimbabwe became the second. India almost got close to the 300-run mark, but they failed to do so by just three runs. ICC had given 104 nations the international status in T20I cricket. But which team holds the record for highest team total in the T20I format among the test-playing nations? Let’s find out.

Top 10 highest team totals by test-playing nations in T20I cricket:

10. South Africa – 259/5 in 18.3 Overs vs West Indies in 2023 :

Quinton De Kock’s century and Reeza Hendricks’ (68) fifty helped South Africa create history and register their highest-ever successful chase in the T20I format. De Kock (100) and Reeza Hendricks had a terrific opening stand of 152 runs in just 11 overs to give South Africa a magnificent start. Proteas middle-order then held things together and carried on with momentum to score 259 runs in just 18.3 overs. Earlier in the innings, West Indies scored 258, their highest T20I total.

9. India – 260/5 in 20 Overs vs Sri Lanka in 2017 :

Indian fans will remember this game vividly as Rohit Sharma shattered several batting records with his stunning 118-run knock which came in just 43 balls. Rohit and KL Rahul’s opening partnership of 165 runs helped India get to their then highest ever T20I total in 2017 against Sri Lanka. India posted 260 runs in 20 overs. Rohit Sharma’s 35-ball century helped India win by a huge margin of 88 runs.

8. Sri Lanka – 260/5 in 20 Overs vs Kenya in 2007 :

Sri Lanka were the first-ever side to go past the 250-run mark in T20I cricket. Sri Lanka posted a huge total of 260 runs in 20 overs against Kenya in ICC T20 World Cup 2007 in South Africa. Sri Lanka also registered their highest winning margin in T20I cricket as Kenya were bowled out for just 88 runs. Sri Lanka won the game by 172 runs at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Sanath Jayasuriya (88) and Mahela Jayawardene (65) both played good innings.

7. Australia – 263/3 in 20 Overs vs Sri Lanka vs in 2016 :

It was that time when Australia promoted all-rounder Glenn Maxwell to open the innings in T20I format. Maxwell helped Australia overtake Sri Lanka’s 9-year-old record of highest team total in a T20I innings. Glenn Maxwell went on to smash 145 runs in 65 balls with 14 fours and 9 sixes as Australia posted a total of 263 runs. Australia won the game by 88 runs.

6. England – 267/3 vs West Indies 2023 :

Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone’s assault on West Indies bowlers helped England post a huge total of 267 runs in 20 overs in December 2023. Opener Phil Salt played a blistering knock of 119 runs in 57 balls and smashed seven fours and 10 sixes in his innings, which resulted in England posting their highest T20I total. Liam Livingstone contributed 54 runs in 21 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes. England won the game by 75 runs.

5. Afghanistan – 278/3 Ireland, Dehradun, 2019 :

Afghanistan previously held the record for the highest ever T20I total among all the test-playing nations. Afghanistan posted a huge 278 runs total with the loss of only 3 wickets against Ireland in Dehradun. Hazratullah Zazai played an outstanding knock of 162 runs in just 62 balls. Hazratullah Zazai smashed 11 fours and 16 sixes in his innings. Irelands posted 194 in reply and lost the game by 84 runs.

4. India – 283/1 vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2024

During four-match bilateral T20I series between South Africa and India, the visitors a massive total of 283 runs losing only one wicket in the final game of the series. 283/1 by India is their second-highest total in the shortest format.

Sanju Samson (109* off 56) and N Tilak Varma (120* off 47) were the top contributors for India in their innings.

3. Zimbabwe – 286/5 vs Seychelles, Nairobi, 2024

During ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier in 2024, Zimbabwe smashed 286/5 against Seychelles in Group B fixture. 286/5 by Zimbabwe is the fifth-highest total in men’s T20I cricket history. Brian Bennett (91 off 35), Tadiwanashe Marumani (86 off 37) and Sikandar Raza (36 off 13) were key contributors in Zimbabwe’s innings in the game. Later, Seychelles were 18/2 after 6.1 overs, when rain interrupted and Zimbabwe won the game by 76 runs (DLS method).

2. India – 297/6 vs Bangladesh, Hyderabad, 2024

On 12th October, 2024, India smashed their highest ever total in T20I cricket – 297/6 against Bangladesh in third match of the three-match T20I series.

India broke the record of Afghanistan to set up the highest ever team total in T20I cricket among the test-playing nations. They missed out on scoring 300 by just three runs. Sanju Samson (111 off 47 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (75 off 35 balls) were the highest scorers for India in this game. Just 11 days after this game, India’s record for highest T20I total by a test-playing nation was broken by Zimbabwe, which we will talk next.

1. Zimbabwe – 344/4 vs Gambia, Nairobi, 2024

On 23rd October, 2024, Zimbabwe smashed their highest ever total in T20I cricket – 344/4 against Gambia in group B clash at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier. The game was played at Ruaraka Sports Club Ground, Nairobi.

Zimbabwe broke 11-day-old record of India to set up the highest ever team total in T20I cricket among the test-playing nations. They also overtook Nepal’s total of 314 to register the highest ever total in T20I cricket among all nations. Captain Sikandar Raza (133 off 43), Openers Brian Bennett (50 off 26), T Marumani (62 off 19) and Clive Madande (53 off 17) were the key contributers for Zimbabwe in the game.

(All stats updated till 15th November, 2024)

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