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

Nepal 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.

Nepal recently broke the record for the highest-ever T20I total in Asian Games 2023. Nepal became the first-ever side to score more than 300 runs in a T20I game. Nepal smashed 314/3 in 20 overs against Mongolia in Asian Games 2023, which is the highest ever total in the history of T20I cricket. 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.

10. Australia – 245/5 in 18.5 Overs vs New Zealand in 2018 :

It was a high-scoring game played at the Eden Park in Auckland between New Zealand and Australia. Small boundaries played a big part in contributing 488 runs in just 38 overs. Australia chased down New Zealand’s target of 244 and ended up scoring 245 runs in just 18.5 overs. Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell both helped Aussies win against New Zealand in the Trans-Tasman T20I tri-series.

9. Australia – 248/6 in 20 Overs vs England in 2013 :

Former Australian captain Aaron Finch played a memorable knock against England in Southampton in 2013. Aaron Finch scored 156 runs in 63 balls which included 11 fours and 14 sixes, the then highest individual score in the format before Finch broke his own, and helped Australia get to their second highest total in T20I cricket. Australia scored 248 runs in 20 overs with the loss of 6 wickets. Australian all-rounder Shane Watson (37 runs in 16 balls) also played a brilliant role in the middle-order.

8. New Zealand – 254/5 in 20 Overs vs Scotland in 2022 :

New Zealand took huge advantage of the inexperienced Scotland bowling line-up and smashed their highest ever T20I score. New Zealand posted 254 runs in 20 overs at Edinburgh. Mark Chapman (83) and Michael Bracewell (61*) played their best to take Kiwis above 250. New Zealand smashed 18 sixes in their innings. Scotland posted 152 runs in reply and lost the game by 102 runs.

7. West Indies – 258/5 in 20 Overs vs South Africa in 2023 :

West Indies posted their highest ever T20I total against South Africa in Centurion in 2023. Johnson Charles’ splendid hundred destroyed South African bowling line-up on a flat track at Supersport Park. Johnson Charles scored 118 runs in 46 balls with 11 fours and 11 sixes in his innings. West Indies failed to defend their total of 258 runs as South Africa chased the total.

6. 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 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 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.

5. 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 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.

4. 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.

3. 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 years 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.

2. England – 267/3 in 20 Overs vs West Indies in 2023 :

Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone’s assault on West Indies bowlers helped England post a huge total of 267 runs in 20 overs. Opener Phil Salt played a blistering knock of 119 runs in 57 balls and smashed 7 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.

1. Afghanistan – 278/3 in 20 Overs vs Ireland in 2019 :

Afghanistan hold 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.

(All stats updated till 5th January, 2024)

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