The Top 3 Highest Team Totals in T20I Cricket History

T20I cricket is known to be the most exciting and entertaining format of the game. Ever since its inception in 2002, the format has grown leaps and bounds. The first ever T20I match was played between Australia and New Zealand in 2005 in Auckland. In its very first game, the format saw over 200 runs being scored to set a record. 

Australia batted first and scored 214/5 with Ricky Ponting scoring 98 not out from 55 balls with 8 fours and 5 sixes. In reply, the Kiwis were bowled out for 170 with Scott Styris top-scoring with 66 and Australia won by 44 runs. Michael Kasprowicz was the best bowler for the Aussies with 4/29 from 4 overs. 

Since then until the India vs Bangladesh game on Saturday, a total of 2904 matches were played in this format. Till now only a few teams have gone past 240 runs on the board from their 20 overs. 

Here is the list of the top 3 scores in T20I cricket 

3. Afghanistan 278/3 vs Ireland – Dehradun -2019

Asghar Afghan and his side came out to bat in the 2nd T20I vs Ireland in Dehradun and scored a massive 278 on the board for the loss of 3 wickets. Opener Hazratullah Zazai was the top scorer with 162 not out from just 62 balls. The left-handed batter hit 11 fours and 16 huge sixes in his knock. Few opener Usman Ghani hit 73 off 48 balls as the pair added 236 for the 1st wicket in 17.3 overs. Ireland scored 194/6 in reply from their 20 overs with Paul Stirling’s 91 being the top score. Rashid Khan was the best bowler for Afghanistan with 4/25 from his 4 overs. 

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

Mahmudullah the oldest Bangladeshi player strode out to the middle in what was his last game for his side in the format. It turned out to be a nightmare outing for the 38-year-old who saw his side being smashed for 297 by the Indian team in front of a packed Hyderabad crowd. Sanju Samson led the charge with the bat scoring 111 off 40 balls while skipper Suryakumar Yadav scored 75. Hardik Pandya then flexed his arms to score quick 47 off 17 balls with Riyan Parag contributing with 34 runs. In reply, Bangladesh could score a mere 164/7 and lost the match by a massive margin of 133 runs. Ravi Bishnoi with 3/30 was the leading bowler of the night. Towhid Hridoy scored an unbeaten fifty while Litton Das scored 42 to end his tour with some positivity. This was also the highest team total by any Test-playing nation in the T20I format. 

1. Nepal 314/3 vs Mongolia – Hangzhou-2023 

The highest total in T20I cricket belongs to Nepal who clobbered a hapless Mongolian side during the Asian Games 2023 tournament. Batting first Nepal scored a mammoth 314 for the loss of 3 wickets from their 20 overs. The start was slow as opener Aasif Sheikh was out for 16 off 17 balls with 2 fours. The openers had added 42 for the 1st wicket in 4.5 overs. Kushal Bhurtel was out next as he was out for 19 off 23 balls with the score reading 66/2 from 7.2 overs. 

Kushal Malla and skipper Rohit Paudel then added 193 runs for the 3rd wicket in 65 balls scoring at nearly 3 runs per ball. Paudel was out for 61 off 27 balls only for Dipendra Singh Airee to come into the fray. Nepal’s all-rounder scored 52 off 10 balls including reaching his half-century from just 9 balls with 8 sixes. Kushal Malla was not out on 137 off 50 balls with 8 fours and 12 sixes. Mongolia were all out for 41 and Nepal won the game by 273 runs. Davaasuren Jamiyansuren’s 10 was the best by a Mongolian batter. The highest score was 23 extras bowled by Nepal as Sandeep Bohara, Karan KC and Sandeep Lamichhane picked 2 wickets apiece during the huge win. 

Disclaimer: This exclusive news is based on the author’s insights, analysis, and intuition. While reviewing this information, consider the points discussed and form your own conclusions.