As the cricket world looks forward to the T20 World Cup 2026, excitement is already building around big hits, quick runs, and huge team scores. With every tournament, batters try to break old records and set new benchmarks in the shortest format of the game. Before new milestones are created, let’s look back at the past and revisit the five highest team totals in T20 World Cup history—innings that stunned fans and left bowlers struggling for answers.
Top 5 highest team totals in T20 World Cup history
1. 260/6 – Sri Lanka vs. Kenya (2007)
The 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa set the tone early, with Sri Lanka posting the highest total of the tournament. It was in Johannesburg that Sri Lanka unleashed an absolute batting carnage against Kenya. The architects of this historical total were none other than the legendary Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene. Jayasuriya, in his characteristic aggressive style, bludgeoned 88 runs off just 44 balls, including 11 fours and 4 sixes. Jayawardene provided excellent support with a fluent 65 off 27 deliveries.
Kenya’s bowlers had no answers as the Sri Lankan batters launched an all-out assault, sending the ball to all corners of the ground. The final total of 260/6 remains the highest team score in T20 World Cup history, a testament to that incredible display of power-hitting and strategic dominance. Sri Lanka went on to win the match comfortably by 172 runs, a margin that further underscored their batting prowess.
2. 230/8 – England vs. South Africa (2016)
The 2016 T20 World Cup witnessed one of the most remarkable chases in the tournament’s history, and indeed, in T20 cricket overall. At the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, England pulled off an extraordinary feat against a formidable South African side. Chasing a mammoth target of 230, many would have deemed it impossible.
However, England, spearheaded by a brilliant Joe Root, had other ideas. Root anchored the innings with a sensational 83 off just 44 balls, while contributions from Jason Roy (43 off 16) and Jos Buttler (21 off 14) kept the scoreboard ticking at an astonishing rate. The match went down to the wire, but England held their nerve, reaching the target with two balls to spare. This chase not only secured them a memorable victory but also cemented their place in the record books for the second-highest successful chase and total in T20 World Cup history.
3. 229/4 – South Africa vs. England (2016)
In the very same unforgettable encounter at the Wankhede, South Africa themselves had set a blistering pace, posting what seemed like an unassailable total of 229/4. This high-scoring affair truly showcased the batting paradise that the Wankhede pitch often offers.
South Africa’s innings was powered by a ferocious opening partnership between Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla. De Kock smashed 52 off just 24 balls, while Amla contributed a quickfire 58 off 30 deliveries. JP Duminy (54 not out off 28) and David Miller (28 not out off 12) provided the late fireworks, ensuring the Proteas reached a formidable total. Little did they know that their incredible effort would eventually be overshadowed by England’s historic chase. This match remains the highest aggregated match in T20 World Cup history, with a staggering 459 runs scored in total.
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4. 218/4 – India vs. England (2007)
The 2007 T20 World Cup features prominently again, and this time, it’s courtesy of a legendary Indian performance against England in Durban. This match is etched in cricketing folklore primarily for one reason: Yuvraj Singh‘s incredible feat of hitting six sixes in an over off Stuart Broad.
Before Yuvraj’s explosive display, openers Virender Sehwag (68 off 52) and Gautam Gambhir (58 off 41) laid a solid foundation. However, it was Yuvraj’s breathtaking 58 off just 16 balls, the fastest fifty in T20I history at the time, that propelled India to a formidable total of 218/4. His assault included a remarkable seven sixes and three fours. India eventually won the match by 18 runs, a victory that was made even more special by the sheer dominance of their batting, particularly Yuvraj’s iconic over.
5. 218/5 – West Indies vs. Afghanistan (2024)
The most recent entry into this elite list comes from the most recent T20 World Cup in 2024, co-hosted by the West Indies and USA. In a dominant display against Afghanistan in St. Lucia, the West Indies flexed their batting muscles, posting a commanding 218/5.
This destructive innings was spearheaded by the explosive Nicholas Pooran, who unleashed a flurry of boundaries and sixes en route to a sensational 98 runs off just 53 balls. Pooran narrowly missed out on a century but ensured his team reached a formidable total, making a strong statement of intent in their home tournament. This performance showcased the evolving power game in T20 cricket and highlighted the West Indies’ potential as a force to be reckoned with.
Also READ: From Virat Kohli to Babar Azam: Leading run-scorers in each edition of T20 World Cup
