The first 6 overs of the batting innings, more popularly known as the powerplay, is 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.
Even in the recently concluded T20 World Cup, the first 6 overs played a key role in deciding the proceeding of the game, especially for the teams batting first. In many of the games in the mega event, the side’s bowling first had the wood on the batting team, which most or less resulted in the latter losing the plot.
There has been a lot of impactful performance regarding the powerplays in the short history of the T20 international format since its inception to date. We will look at the top 10 team scores in powerplays in the shortest format of the game.
| TEAM | OPPOSITION | SCORE IN POWERPLAYS | FINAL TOTAL | YEAR AND VENUE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | West Indies | 102/0 | 259/4 | 2023, Centurion |
| West Indies | Sri Lanka | 98/4 | 134/6 | 2021, Coolidge |
| Ireland | West Indies | 93/0 | 208/7 | 2020, St George’s |
| West Indies | Bangladesh | 91/1 | 130/2 | 2018, Sylhet |
| Netherlands | Ireland | 91/1 | 193/4 | 2014, Sylhet |
| Australia | New Zealand | 91/0 | 245/5 | 2018, Auckland |
| England | South Africa | 89/3 | 230/8 | 2016, Mumbai |
| West Indies | Bangladesh | 88/1 | 190/10 | 2018, Dhaka |
| South Africa | England | 88/0 | 172/1 | 2016, Johannesburg |
| New Zealand | West Indies | 86/2 | 102/4 | 2018, Mount Maunganui |
| West Indies | South Africa | 86/1 | 236/6 | 2015, Johannesburg |
Key highlights from the above stats
259/4 by South Africa against West Indies in 2023 at Centurion is the highest ever run chase T20 internationals. 517 runs accumulated in the game by both side batsmen is the first time more than 500 runs have been scored in the shortest format as far as internationals are concerned.
230/8 by England against South Africa in a Super 10 match at Mumbai is the highest ever in the World Cups.
West Indies features 4 times in the list, the most by any team, two of those came against Bangladesh. The table topper, South Africa has 2, whereas the 5 other teams have managed to come into the list once each.
The Netherlands, a non-Test-playing nation is the only team to have made this list. They have the highest powerplay score in World Cups(91/1) which is also joint 4th fastest in all of T20Is.
West Indies in their pursuit of 134, scored 98 in the powerplays while losing 4 wickets. This was also the game where Kieron Pollard smashed 36 runs in an over for the Windies.
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