T20 cricket and huge runs almost go hand-in-hand. Since the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup when Chris Gayle lit up Johannesburg with the first century ever in the history of T20I cricket, big scores have been a theme at the tournament.
But what is the highest team score in World Cup cricket history? Who has scored it? Let us tell you that the highest team score in the T20 World Cup history has been scored by Sri Lanka. They managed to do that against Kenya in ICC T20 World Cup 2007.
Here are some more details about the highest innings totals in a cricket World Cup game.
Highest team scores in T20 World Cup history
Highest team totals in T20 World Cup
| Rank | Team | Score | Opposition | Venue | Match Date |
| 1 | Sri Lanka | 260/6 | Kenya | Johannesburg | 14 Sep 2007 |
| 2 | England | 230/8 | South Africa | Mumbai | 18 Mar 2016 |
| 3 | South Africa | 229/4 | England | Mumbai | 18 Mar 2016 |
| 4 | India | 218/4 | England | Durban | 19 Sep 2007 |
| 5 | South Africa | 211/5 | Scotland | London | 7 Jun 2009 |
| 6 | India | 210/2 | Afghanistan | Abu Dhabi | 3 Nov 2021 |
| 7 | South Africa | 209/5 | Afghanistan | Mumbai | 20 Mar 2016 |
| 8 | South Africa | 208/2 | West Indies | Johannesburg | 11 Sep 2007 |
| 9 | West Indies | 205/6 | South Africa | Johannesburg | 11 Sep 2007 |
| 10 | West Indies | 205/4 | Australia | Colombo | 5 Oct 2012 |
Sri Lanka 260 for 6 vs Kenya, Johannesburg, 2007
It is a record that was created in the first edition of the T20 cricket World Cup and to this day, remains unbeaten. Kenya won the toss and sent Sri Lanka to bat in the match. They were in for the long haul. Sanath Jayasuriya hammered 88 off just 44 balls, his innings including 11 fours and four sixes.
Then came captain Mahela Jayawardene, who also smashed 65 off just 27 balls with nine fours and two sixes. But, probably the most important knock came from Jehan Mubarak. He came into bat in the dying stages of the first innings, and by the time he was done, he had amassed 46 off 13 balls, at a fearsome strike rate of 353.84.
This was the first time in T20I cricket that a team had gone past the 250-mark, and even after 17 years, remains the highest score in the history of the T20 World Cup.
In reply, Kenya were bowled out for a mere 88.
England 230 for 8 vs South Africa, Mumbai, 2016
The second-highest score in the history of T20 World Cups came in the second innings. South Africa had posted a mammoth 229 for 4 in their first innings group game of the T20 World Cup in 2016 in Mumbai. Most thought the game was done then and there.
But Joe Root had other ideas.
Jason Roy started the run-chase with a bang scorching his way to a 16-ball 43 with five fours and three sixes. Then came Root, who stood tall with 83 off just 44 balls, his innings consisting of six fours and four sixes. He pulverised the South Africa bowling attack as England won the game in 19.2 overs. The 26 extras by South Africa also did not help their cause.
South Africa 229 for 4 vs England, Mumbai, 2016
The first innings of the above entry. It was a run-fest on a placid Mumbai surface. England won the toss and elected to field, a decision they would soon come to rue.
Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock added 96 runs for the opening stand in just 7.1 overs. While de Kock scored 52 runs off 24 balls, Amla scored 58 off 31. Jean-Paul Duminy provided the finishing touches to the scorecard, bashing an unbeaten 54 off just 28 balls, his innings laced with three sixes and three fours. David Miller also did his bit by scoring 28* off just 12 balls with two fours and two sixes.
The South Africans would have thought their first innings score of 229 for 4 would have been enough, but England batters came out all guns blazing and took the side over the line in a high-scoring battle.
India 218 for 4 vs England, Durban, 2007
Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes are what got India to one of the highest totals in the history of T20 World Cups. It was a group game against the more favourable side England.
India opted to bat in Durban and Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir got them off to a fabulous start in a 136-run opening stand in 14.4 overs. While Sehwag scored 68 off 52 balls, Gambhir got 58 in 41. A quick flurry of wickets meant India were on course for a 180-total at best.
But Yuvraj came in and quickly changed the course of the game. He was spurred on by a cheeky sledge from Andrew Flintoff and Stuart Broad bore the burnt of Yuvraj’s fury. It was the 19th over of the India innings, with the score on 171 for 3. Yuvraj sent Broad for six sixes in an over and by the end of the innings, India had walloped to 218.
The bowlers then did the job of restricting England to 200 in 20 overs to win the contest by 18 runs.
South Africa 211 for 5 vs Scotland, London, 2009
South Africa’s 211 against Scotland at the T20 World Cup 2009 is next on this list of highest scores in a T20 cricket World Cup game. Having been sent to bat at The Oval, Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis piled on the runs up top with a mammoth 87-run stand inside the first ten overs.
South Africa lost their way a touch but AB de Villiers walked in and turned the tide in their favour. He smashed an unbeaten 79 off just 34 balls, his innings studded with five fours and six sixes. He got good support from Albie Morkel too, as the Proteas scored a towering 211.
In reply, Scotland were bowled out for just 81 in 15.4 overs.
India 210 for 2 vs Afghanistan, Abu Dhabi, 2021
This one came just four years back and it was Rohit Sharma who did all the scoring up front for India. Coming in a must-win game, India were sent into bat by Afghanistan. Rohit and KL Rahul dug in and added a massive 140 runs for the opening wicket in just 14.4 overs.
While Rohit smashed 74 off just 47 balls, Rahul scored 69 off 48 balls. Rishabh Pant also whacked 27 not out off 13 balls, but it was Hardik Pandya’s knock that took India past the 200 mark. He came in and muscled an unbeaten 35 off just 13 balls, with four fours and two sixes. The total remains the sixth-highest in T20 World Cup history.
In reply, Afghanistan could only manage 144 for 7.
South Africa 209 for 5 vs Afghanistan, Mumbai, 2016
South Africa’s name once again comes on this list. And again, on this occasion, it was an AB de Villiers special that took them to a towering score. Batting first in a group game against Afghanistan at the 2016 T20 World Cup, South Africa lost Hashim Amla early for 5. But, Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis steadied the ship with a 65-run stand in quick time.
Once the two were dismissed, it was time for de Villiers to shine. He came in and belted 64 off just 29 balls, with his innings including four fours and five sixes. South Africa reached 209 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs and in reply, Afghanistan could only manage 172 in 20 overs.
South Africa 208 for 2 vs West Indies, Johannesburg, 2007
The next score on this list also came in the second innings and came during the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2207. T20 cricket was still at a very early stage during this time. This was in fact, just the 20th T20I in all, and the first of the cricket World Cup that year.
South Africa were set a tough score of 206 to chase by West Indies. But they took took on the challenge. Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs added 54 runs inside the powerplay. Once Smith fell, Gibbs continued to march forward. He stroked a fluent unbeaten 90 off just 55 balls, his innings consisting of 14 fours and two sixes.
Justin Kemp also scored an unbeaten 46 off 22 balls as South Africa chased down 206 in 17.4 overs. It was the highest successful target ever chased down in T20I cricket at the time.
West Indies 205 for 6 vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2007
The first innings of the entry above and it was Universe Boss Chris Gayle who decided to give the inaugural T20 World Cup 2007 a grand start. South Africa won the toss and elected to field first. West Indies unleashed Gayle on the home side.
Gayle walloped 117 off just 57 balls, his innings studded with seven fours and ten big sixes. It was the first century ever hit in the history of T20I cricket.
West Indies totalled a huge 205 for 6 but it turned out to be insufficient on the day.
West Indies 205 for 4 vs Australia, Colombo, 2012
West Indies’ 205 for 5 against Australia might be only tenth on this list of the highest scores in T20 World Cup history, but as far as results go, this one had the biggest implications. That is because it came in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2012 in Colombo.
Batting first, a Gayle storm hit Australia with the opener slamming 75 off just 41 balls at a strike rate of 182.92. Kieron Pollard then did his bit by scoring 38 off just 15 balls in the death overs as West Indies posted a mammoth 205.
Even the champion team, Australia felt the pressure of the chase and were bowled out for 131 in 16.4 overs. West Indies qualified for the final and eventually won the T20 World Cup for the first time that year.
FAQs
Which team has the highest score in the T20 cricket World Cup?
Sri Lanka holds the record for the highest score ever in a T20 cricket World Cup game. They scored 260 for 6 in a group game against Kenya in Johannesburg in the T20 cricket World Cup 2007.
Which teams scored the first ever team totals over 200 in a single T20 cricket World Cup match?
West Indies holds the record for scoring the first ever score of 200 in a T20 cricket World Cup game. They managed to do that in the inaugural T20 World Cup 2007 World Cup match against South Africa
