The death overs in any format of cricket are crucial. In the T20s of international standards, it will be a high octane scenario. Batters will be at their slog feast trying to add every run possible to their side’s final score, whereas keeping the score in check is the only job for bowlers. It is almost the same in T20 chases.
Death overs are the period of four overs between overs 17th to 20th, which is the final 24 balls of an T20 innings.
As of now, 76 runs scored by England in the last four overs of their innings in a match against New Zealand in 2019 in Napier are the most runs scored by any international team in the death overs of an T20 innings.
In 2021, Norway’s Sher Sahak and Usman Arif reproduced the same against Germany bowlers in a T20 game – they scored 76 runs in their team’s last four overs and equalled England’s record.
This article will discuss the top ten instances where most runs were scored in the death overs of a T20 innings.
Most Expensive Death Overs in T20 Internationals
| RUNS | TEAM | OPPOSITION | VENUE | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89 | Nepal | Mongolia | Hangzhou | 2023 |
| 81 | India | Afghanistan | Bengaluru | 2024 |
| 79 | West Indies | England | St George's | 2023 |
| 77 | Nepal | Hong Kong | Mulpani | 2023 |
| 76 | England | New Zealand | Napier | 2019 |
| 76 | Norway | Germany | Krefeld | 2021 |
| 75 | Afghanistan | Ireland | Greater Noida | 2017 |
| 74 | England | West Indies | St George's | 2023 |
| 74 | India | Australia | Guwahati | 2023 |
| 74 | Afghanistan | Zimbabwe | Mirpur | 2019 |
| 72 | Sri Lanka | India | Dharamsala | 2022 |
Stats Insights
Only 8 runs were scored in the last over bowled by Tim Southee in the record-holding England innings when they added 76 runs in total against New Zealand in Napier. All credits to the English duo Eoin Morgan & Dawid Malan, who put together 68 runs in three overs (17, 18, & 19). The pair featured a 182 runs partnership in that game for the third wicket – an English record in T20Is. England won that game by a mighty 76 runs difference.
Afghanistan is the only side to feature thrice in this top ten list. They have scored more than 70 in death overs three times in T20 internationals; South Africa twice.
India’s best death overs performance came in the 2007 World cup game against England when Yuvraj Singh hit six sixes in an over for the first time in the format. That Stuart Broad’s over jointly holds the record for the most expensive over in any T20I game.
On the receiving end, teams India and Ireland have featured twice.
Related: Which is the highest score successfully chased in a T20I game?
