Highest Total In T20I: The T20I has revolutionized cricket and made it a thrilling spectacle of power hitting and quick scoring. The top scores in T20I history keep breaking, and what were previously unthinkable scores in the 50-over contest now become the norm in the 20-over spectacle. With changing rules, better technology, and a move towards aggressive cricket, T20Is have now become a platform for records.
Highest total in T20I cricket
1. Zimbabwe: 344/4 against Gambia (October 2024)
Zimbabwe set the standard for T20I batting with a record 344/4 against Gambia in Nairobi. The score not only became a Zimbabwe record but also the highest score in T20I history. Sikandar Raza struck a marvelous innings, scoring an unbeaten 133 off 43 balls, including 15 sixes.
Zimbabwe’s confidence in the approach meant that every batsman got to chip in for the large score. In spite of the lack of experience in Gambia, the record-breaking effort set the stage for potentially extremely large T20I scores.
2. England: 304/2 against South Africa (September 2025)
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England put on a dazzling 304/2 against South Africa at Old Trafford, Manchester, breaking their own record in September 2025 for T20Is. Phil Salt and Jos Buttler batted unbelievably, and it was fitting that both batsmen equitably contributed to the world record – Salt playing the leading role with 145 runs from 95 balls (9 fours, 11 sixes) and Butler impressively making 159 runs from 73 balls (7 fours, 15 sixes) .
The game personified England’s aggressive style of play in T20 cricket, with apparently every England player playing a role in the run-fest. The phenomenal performance by England indicates what the era should expect of them in future T20 World Cups.
3. India: 297/6 vs Bangladesh (October 2024)
India’s 297/6 in Hyderabad against Bangladesh in October 2024 was a masterpiece of modern T20 batting. With Sanju Samson’s stunning 111, along with Suryakumar Yadav (75) and Hardik Pandya (47), India displayed a free-wheeling style of batting that suited the small grounds and flat decks perfectly.
The innings was representative of Indian T20 cricket embracing a sustained style of aggression, with players making decisions to play riskier cricket and take the large opportunities available to score.
4. Afghanistan: 278/3 v Ireland (February 2019)
In February 2019 Afghanistan set a high benchmark by scoring 278/3 against Ireland in Dehradun, with the standout performance of Hazratullah Zazai who smashed a massive 162 undefeated from only 62 balls. Clearly demonstrating Afghanistan’s capacity to score big in T20Is.
This performance established Afghanistan as a serious contender in the T20 game given their ability not only to match up against teams, but also display heavy-hitting power in their batting.
5. England: 267/3 vs West Indies (December 2023)
England’s 267/3 against the West Indies in December 2023 at Tarouba was another demonstration of their powerful batting in T20 cricket. Phil Salt provided a superb 119 and Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone contributed useful runs with the bat.
England’s T20 cricketing philosophy of hitting hard and hitting often worked to perfection as they came away with a comfortable wins by 75 runs and asserted their dominance in run chases under pressure.
6. Australia: 263/3 vs Sri Lanka (September 2016)
In Pallekele in 2016, Australia smashed a total of 263/3 against Sri Lanka, spearheaded by Glenn Maxwell and his stunning 145* off 65 balls. Maxwell’s innings included 14 fours and 9 sixes, which is one of the great T20I innings of all time.
Along with support from Travis Head and Usman Khawaja, Australia put up one of the greatest scores in T20I cricket, a volume of runs that was too many for Sri Lanka to chase down.
7. Sri Lanka: 260/6 against Kenya (September 2007)
The 260/6 by Sri Lankans against Kenya in Johannesburg at the 2007 T20 World Cup is still a record milestone. When T20 cricket was just taking off, Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene were basically saying that T20I cricket could generate massive scores. This match has established the start of big-scoring T20 games and is still remembered as one of Sri Lanka’s greatest batting displays.
8. South Africa: 259/4 vs West Indies (March 2023)
South Africa’s 259/4 against West Indies in March 2023 was a masterclass of T20I batting, and it was made even more exhilarating that they chased down the total in less than 20 overs.
Husbands for Johannesburg Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks made sure the chase got started nicely with an opening partnership of 152 runs. South Africa’s relentless ability to hit over the boundary on home soil at Centurion was a textbook display of their power-hitting ability.
9. West Indies: 258/5 vs South Africa (March 2023)
West Indies were close with 258/5 against South Africa in the same March 2023 Centurion encounter, with Johnson Charles posting 118 runs. Even with the massive endeavor, South Africa chased with ease, highlighting the unpredictability of T20I matches. West Indies showed their world-famous big-hitting prowess but couldn’t quite get it done to claim this high-scoring contest.
10. New Zealand: 254/5 vs Scotland (July 2022)
New Zealand scored 254/5 against Scotland in July 2022 at Edinburgh. However, this was done by a well-timed innings that combined boundary-hitting with strategic placements.
Mark Chapman and Michael Bracewell were the pillars around whom this score was constructed with contributions of 83 and 61 points, respectively. Although the opposition lacked experience, New Zealand’s strategy and aggressive batting left a high benchmark for T20I scores.
11. Pakistan: 232/6 vs England (July 2021)
In July 2021, Pakistan achieved a stunning 232/6 against England at Nottingham. The innings was driven by an exemplary opening partnership between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, adding 150 runs for the opening wicket. Even after losing wickets in the latter half of the innings, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Hafeez gave finishing touches to the innings, placing a tough score for England to overtake.
12. Bangladesh: 215/5 vs Sri Lanka (March 2018)
Bangladesh’s record-ever T20I score of 215/5 against Sri Lanka in Colombo was the turning point in their style of playing T20I cricket. For many years, Bangladesh had been known as a defensive team, but this match was an indication of how they were improving to post aggressive scores.
Although they had only seven instances of crossing 200, this is the game that stands out as a milestone in their T20I career.
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