Top 10: Highest Team Totals in T20 World Cup History

A lot of times teams have posted huge totals in T20 World Cup history. Sri Lanka holds the record for the highest total by a team in T20 World Cup history.

In this article, we will talk about the top 10 highest team totals in T20 World Cup history.

10. West Indies | 205/4 vs Australia, 2012

In the 2012 ICC T20 World Cup, the West Indies posted 205/4 on the board against Australia in the second semi-final, which the Windies won by 74 runs. For the Windies, Chris Gayle top-scored with his knock of 75* runs off 41 balls, while Kieron Pollard contributed with a quick-fire knock of 38 runs off 15 balls.

In response to the Windies’ total, the Aussies were bowled out for just 131 runs in 16.4 overs. George Bailey scored 63 runs off 29 balls, but that wasn’t enough for the Aussies to win.

9. West Indies | 205/6 vs South Africa, 2007

In the inaugural match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2007, the West Indies posted a total of 205 on the board, with Chris Gayle smashing 117 runs off 57 deliveries, a knock that consisted of 10 sixers.

In reply, South Africa chased down the total in 17.4 overs, with Herschelle Gibbs smashing 90 runs off 55 balls.

8. South Africa | 208/2 vs West Indies, 2007

The inaugural match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2007 was a high-scoring affair. The West Indies batting first posted 205 runs on the board, with Chris Gayle lighting up the tournament with his 117-run knock.

South Africa came out to chase the target of 206 with all guns blazing. They got an opening stand of 54 runs, Herschelle Gibbs went on scoring 90* off 55 balls, and Justin Kemp smashed 46* off 22 balls, whereas the WI bowlers struggled to take wickets.

7. South Africa | 209/5 vs Afghanistan, 2016

South Africa scored 209/5 against Afghanistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2016 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Batting first, South Africa were off to a great start, scoring 90 runs from 9.2 overs. Then came their skipper, AB de Villiers, who smashed 64 runs from 29 balls, helping the Proteas reach a total of 209 runs.

In reply, Afghanistan got all out for 172 runs on the last ball of their inning. Mohammad Shahzad gave his team a great start by scoring 44 off 19 deliveries, but the other batters failed to carry the momentum.

6. India | 210/2 vs Afghanistan, 2021

In the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, India posted 210/2 on the board against Afghanistan at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. The Indian openers stitched an opening partnership of 140 runs, with both openers scoring above 65 runs. Hardik Pandya and Rishab Pant’s quick-fire knocks took the team to a total of 210 runs.

Afghanistan, in reply, batted for the whole 20 overs, but they fell short by 66 runs. Karim Janat top-scored with his knock of 42 runs from 22 balls.

5. South Africa | 211/5 vs Scotland, 2009

In the 2009 T20 World Cup, Scotland were defeated by a huge margin of 130 runs against South Africa. The Proteas posted 211/5 on the board, and Scotland were bowled out for just 81 runs.

For South Africa, AB de Villiers smashed 79* runs from 34 balls, a knock consisting of 6 sixes and 5 fours, and for Scotland, Kyle Coetzer top-scored with his knock of 42 runs off 32 balls.

4. India | 218/4 vs England, 2007

Yuvraj Singh’s 6 sixes in an over to Stuart Broad and a 12-ball fifty against England at the Kingsmead, Durban, in the T20 World Cup 2007 helped India reach a total of 218/4 runs.

India, batting first, got off to a great start, with the openers putting up an opening stand of 136 runs. Both Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir scored fifties. England, in reply, scored 200 runs too but lost the match by 18 runs.

3. South Africa | 229/4 vs England, 2016

South Africa scored 229/4 against England at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, in the 2016 T20 World Cup. Both openers of South Africa scored fifties; JP Duminy too scored a fifty, and David Miller’s cameo of 28 runs from 12 balls took them to 229 runs.

In reply, England chased down the total with Joe Root scoring 83 runs from 44 deliveries, and at the top, Jason Roy scored 43 runs from 16 balls.

2. England | 230/8 vs South Africa, 2016

England in the 2016 T20 World Cup, playing at the Wankhede Stadium against South Africa, were asked to chase down the target of 230 runs, which they did with 2 balls remaining, making it the highest successful run chase in the tournament.

Coming out to chase 230, England got a start of 89 runs for 3 wickets in the power play, with Jason Roy smashing 43 off 16 balls. But It was Joe Root’s 83 runs from 44 balls that ensured the win for England.

1. Sri Lanka | 260/6 vs Kenya, 2007

Sri Lanka holds the record for posting the highest team total in T20 World Cup history. They achieved this feat in the 2007 inaugural T20 World Cup when they smashed 260/6 against Kenya at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.

Sri Lanka, batting first, lost the wicket of Upul Tharanga early, followed by the wicket of Kumar Sangakkara, who was dismissed for 30 off 18 balls, but then the carnage began.

Sanath Jayasuriya scored 88 runs from 44 balls, Mahela Jayawardene scored 65 runs from 27 balls, and at the end, a cameo of 46 runs from 13 balls by Jehan Mubarak took them to a total of 260/6. In response, Kenya were bowled out for just 88 runs, losing the match by 172 runs.

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