Top 5 highest team totals in T20I cricket

Only once a team has scored more than 300 runs in an innings in T20I cricket.

T20I cricket has spread rapidly across the globe among cricket lovers over the past decade. The rise of stature and following of the shortest format has been chiefly because of the high-scoring matches where both sides hit lots of boundaries that entertain the fans.

Batsman put the least price on their wickets in T20I cricket compared to ODIs and tests. The flat nature of pitches in this format has meant that even a total of 200 is not safe these days.

On that note, let’s take a look at the top five highest team totals in T20I cricket till now.

Highest team totals in T20I cricket:

5. Zimbabwe – 286/5 vs Seychelles, 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).

4. Afghanistan 278/3 vs Ireland, 2019

Afghanistan were the first team to cross 270-mark in a T20I, when the smashed 278/3 against Ireland in Dehradun in 2019.

Opener Hazratullah Zazai’s unbeaten 162 off 62 balls, including 16 sixes and 11 fours helped his side post a mammoth total of 278/3 in just 20 overs.

Later in the second innings, they restricted Ireland for 194/6 and won the game by 84 runs.

3. India 297/6 vs Bangladesh, 2024

During the Hyderabad T20I between India and Bangladesh in 2024, the Indian cricket team made 297/6, which is the third-highest total in T20I cricket. This is also second-highest total by any test-playing nation in T20Is.

For India, opener Sanju Samson smashed 111 runs and captain Suryakumar Yadav played a fine knock of 75 runs. Towards the end, Hardik Pandya (18-ball 47) and Riyan Parag (13-ball 34) guided the hosts to 297/6. India eventually won the game by 133 runs.

2. Nepal 314/3 vs Mongolia, 2023

Nepal were the first team to score more than 300 runs in an innings in T20I cricket. They achieved this epic feat during the Asian Games Men’s Cricket Competition in 2023 against Mongolia.

Batting first, Nepal’s Kushal Malla slammed 137 runs off 50 balls, with 12 sixes and eight fours. Towards the end, Dipendra Singh Airee played a blistering knock of 52 runs off just 10 deliveries, which propelled Nepal’s total to 314/3 in 20 overs.

While chasing, Mongolia were bundled out for 41 runs and Nepal won the one-sided clash by 273 runs.

1. Zimbabwe – 344/4 vs Gambia, 2024

On 23rd October, 2024, Zimbabwe became second team to cross 300-run mark in a T20I. They smashed 344/4 against Gambia and registered the highest ever T20I team total during a game 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 not only broke India’s record for highest T20I total by a test-playing nation, but also broke the overall record for highest T20I total, which was previously held by Nepal (314). 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 23rd October 2024)

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