As the cricketing world eagerly awaits T20 World Cup 2026the excitement is already building around big hits, quick runs and big team scores. In every tournament, batters try to break old records and set new benchmarks in the shortest format of the game. Before creating new milestones, let’s take a look back and look at the top five teams in T20 World Cup history – the innings that left fans in awe and bowlers struggling to find answers.
5 highest scoring teams in T20 World Cup history
1. 260/6 – Sri Lanka v. Kenya (2007)
The 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa set the initial tone, with Sri Lanka posting the highest total of the tournament. It was in Johannesburg that Sri Lanka launched an absolute batting massacre against Kenya. The architects of this historical complex were none other than legends Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene. Jayasuriya scored 88 runs off just 44 balls including 11 fours and 4 sixes in his characteristic aggressive style. Jayawardene provided excellent support with a fluent 65 off 27 deliveries.
Kenya’s bowlers had no response as the Sri Lankan batsmen launched an all-out attack, sending the ball all over the ground. The final total of 260/6 remains the highest team score in T20 World Cup history, a testament to an incredible display of strength and strategic superiority. Sri Lanka won the match comfortably by 172 runs, a margin that further highlighted their batting prowess.
2. 230/8 – England v South Africa (2016)
The 2016 T20 World Cup witnessed one of the most remarkable chases in the history of the tournament and indeed in T20 cricket in general. At the famous Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, England achieved an extraordinary feat against a formidable South African team. Chasing a mammoth target of 230, many would have thought it impossible.
But England took a brilliant lead Joe Roothad other ideas. Root closed the innings with a sensational 83 off 44 balls. Jason Roy (43 off 16) and If Buttler (14 of 21) ticked the scoreboard at an astonishing rate. The match went down to the wire but England held their nerve and reached the target with two balls to spare. This chase not only earned them a memorable victory but also cemented their place in the record books for the second most successful runs and totals in T20 World Cup history.
3. 229/4 – South Africa v England (2016)
In an equally memorable encounter at the Wankhede, South Africa themselves posted a seemingly unassailable pace of 229/4. This high-scoring affair truly showcased the batting paradise that the Wankhede pitch often offers.
A fierce opening partnership between South Africa’s innings was strengthened Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla. De Kock scored 52 off just 24 balls while Amla scored 58 off 30 deliveries. JP Duminy (54 is not beyond 28) and David Miller (28 not out off 12) provided the late fireworks, ensuring the Proteas reached a mammoth total. Little did they know that their incredible efforts would eventually be overshadowed by England’s historic pursuit. This match remains the highest total in T20 World Cup history with a total of 459 runs scored.
Also READ: 5 teams that could be surprise package in T20 World Cup 2026
4. 218/4 – India v England (2007)
The 2007 T20 World Cup is back in the limelight and this time featuring a legendary Indian performance against England in Durban. This match is etched in cricket folklore primarily for one reason: Yuvraj SinghHitting six sixes past Stuart Broad is an incredible feat.
Before Yuvraj’s explosive display, he opens Virender Sehwag (68 off 52) and Gautam Gambhir (58 off 41) laid a solid foundation. However, Yuvraj’s breathtaking 58 off just 16 balls, then the fastest fifty in T20I history, took India to 218/4. His knock included a remarkable seven sixes and three fours. India eventually won the match by 18 runs, a victory made all the more special by the iconic dominance of their batting, especially Yuvraj’s.
5. 218/5 – West Indies v Afghanistan (2024)
The latest entry to this elite list comes from the most recent T20 World Cup in 2024, which was co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA. West Indies flexed their batting muscles with a commanding 218/5 in a dominant display against Afghanistan in St Lucia.
This devastating strike was led by an explosive Nicholas Pooranruns off just 53 balls, unleashing a string of boundaries and sixes en route to a sensational 98. Pooran narrowly missed out on a century but made a strong statement of intent for his team in the home tournament, ensuring a huge result. This performance showcased the developing power play in T20 cricket and underlined the West Indies’ potential as a force to be reckoned with.
Also READ: From Virat Kohli to Babar Azam: Leading run-scorers in every edition of the T20 World Cup
