The first six overs of the batting innings, more popularly known as the powerplay, are an important part of the shortest format of the game. Most of the time, it either makes or breaks the progress of the game.
If a batting team gets a great start in the powerplays, they get the momentum with which the rest of the innings can take advantage. Similarly, if the bowling teams get a couple of wickets or manage to stem the flow of runs, they are likely to get the upper hand for the rest of the innings.
There have been a lot of impactful performances in the powerplays in T20I cricket. In this article, we’ll look at the highest scores recorded by teams in powerplays in T20Is.
Highest Powerplay Scores in T20Is
| Team | Against | Score in PP | Final Total | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | Serbia | 116/0 | 116/0 | Sofia | 2021 |
| Turkey | Bulgaria | 113/0 | 237/10 | Sofia | 2025 |
| Australia | Scotland | 113/1 | 156/3 | Edinburgh | 2024 |
| Zimbabwe | Gambia | 103/1 | 344/4 | Nairobi (Ruaraka) | 2024 |
| South Africa | West Indies | 102/0 | 259/4 | Centurion | 2023 |
| England | South Africa | 100/0 | 304/2 | Manchester | 2025 |
| West Indies | Sri Lanka | 98/4 | 134/6 | Coolidge | 2021 |
| India | England | 95/1 | 247/9 | Wankhede | 2025 |
| India | New Zealand | 94/2 | 155/2 | Guwahati | 2026 |
| Ireland | West Indies | 93/0 | 208/7 | St George’s | 2020 |
| West Indies | Afghanistan | 92/1 | 218/5 | Gros Islet | 2024 |
Key Insights on Highest Powerplay Scores in T20I History
Record-Breaking Team Totals in the Powerplay
Romania have aggregated the highest powerplay score in a T20I innings. They scored 116 runs in 5.4 overs in response to Romania’s 115 for 7 in the 2021 Sofia T20I. This was also the first instance of a team scoring 100-plus runs within the first six overs in a T20I innings.
Romania’s 116-run chase is the fastest by a team while successfully chasing a target of 100 or more runs in T20Is.
Romania’s both openers – Ramesh Satheesan (14 balls) and Taranjeet Singh (18 balls) – scored their fifties in less than 20 balls in the 116-run chase. This was the first instance of both openers scoring half-centuries in less than 20 balls in the same T20I innings.
Australia have brought up the highest powerplay total among full member teams in a T20I innings. They scored 113 while losing one wicket against Scotland in the 2024 Edinburgh T20I.
Australia then went on to register the fastest 150-run chase in T20Is, as they needed 9.4 overs to overhaul the 155-run target against Scotland in the same match.
South Africa were the first full-member team to score 100-plus runs in the powerplay in a T20I innings. They aggregated 102 runs against the West Indies in the 2023 Centurion T20I.
Leading Individual Performances and Boundary Records
Travis Head scored 73 of Australia’s 113 runs, which included 12 fours, the most boundaries by a batter in the powerplay in a T20I innings.
Overall, Australia smashed 17 fours in the first six overs, the most by a team in the powerplay in a T20I innings.
Head’s 73 runs are only bettered by Turkey’s Muhammad Fahad, who scored 93 runs against Bulgaria in 2025, the most by a batter in the powerplay in a T20I innings.
Fahad’s 93 runs included 10 sixes, the most hit by a batter in the powerplay in a T20I innings.
Fahad brought up a 13-ball fifty, the joint third fastest, before scoring a 29-ball century, the second-fastest by a batter in T20Is.
In all, Turkey hit 11 sixes in their 113 runs, the joint most by a team in the powerplay in a T20I innings, along with the West Indies’ 11 in their 98 runs against Sri Lanka in the 2021 Coolidge T20I.
Six of the West Indies’ 11 sixes came in an over off the bat of Kieron Pollard. This was just the second instance of a batter hitting six sixes in an over in T20Is.
Most Runs in Middle and Death Overs
Nepal have scored the most runs in the middle overs in a T20I innings. They aggregated 163 runs against Mongolia in the 2023 Asian Games. This resulted in Nepal breaching the 300-run mark for the first time in a T20I innings.
Zimbabwe are the only team to score 100-plus runs each in the powerplay and death overs in a T20I innings. They scored 103 runs in the powerplay and added 102 runs in the death overs against Gambia in the T20 World Cup Africa regional qualifier in 2024.
Zimbabwe’s 102 runs in the death are the most by a team in the slog overs in a T20I innings.
This strong start and finish helped Zimbabwe reach the highest team total in T20Is – 344 for 4.
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