Top 5 highest team totals in T20 World Cup semi-finals

Ishan Kishan & Sanju Samson (Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

India and England competed in one of the most intense semi-finals in the history of the T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, 5 March 2026. A total of 499 runs were scored from 40 overs, with the Men in Blue prevailing in the end and entering the final, where they will face New Zealand.

Many semi-finals in the past have seen huge scores from teams which have now formed part of the T20 World Cup folklore.

Here are the five highest team totals in T20 World Cup semi-finals

5. West Indies – 196/3 vs India, 2016

The West Indies in 2016 were truly at the heights of their powers in T20I cricket. The Caribbean outfit went on to beat hosts India in the semi-final of that year’s T20 World Cup at Wankhede. Chasing 193, the Windies chased down the total with two balls to spare following healthy contributions from Johnson Charles, Lendl Simmons and Andre Russell.

Charles gave them a great start, scoring 52 while opening the batting. However, it was Simmons and Russell who got them home by scoring unbeaten 82 and 43, respectively, to clinch a seven-wicket win.

West Indies would go on to win the tournament by beating England in the final thanks to Carlos Brathwaite’s unforgettable four consecutive sixes off Ben Stokes in the final over. 

4. Australia – 197/7 vs Pakistan, 2010

In yet another successful chase, Australia recorded the fourth-highest total in T20 World Cup semi-final history when they beat Pakistan in Saint Lucia during the 2010 edition. The game will always be remembered for one of the greatest T20I innings from Australian batter Michael Hussey.

The Aussies were set a target of 192 by Pakistan to book a place in the final. With the side struggling at 105 for 5, Hussey walked in to replace his brother, David, and completely change the game. The left-handed batter scored an unbeaten 60 off just 24 balls. This included scoring 22 runs off the final over to take his side home.

Australia, however, would go on to lose the final to England, who won their maiden ICC title under the leadership of Paul Collingwood.

3. West Indies – 205/4 vs Australia, 2012

A second appearance for West Indies on this list and the first side to record a mammoth semi-final score whilst batting first. This was also the first time in T20 World Cup history where a score of over 200 was achieved in the semi-final stage of the tournament.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy won the toss and elected to bat first in Colombo. Riding high off Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 75, the Caribbean side posted 205 with a loss of only four wickets from their 20 overs. Their innings was given a major boost towards the end by Kieron Pollard, who scored a quick-fire 38 from just 15 balls.

Australia, meanwhile, could only manage 131 with Ravi Rampaul taking three wickets.

West Indies would advance through to the final and go on to win their maiden T20I title and their first ICC honour since winning the 2004 Champions Trophy.

2. England – 246/7 vs India, 2026

The only entry on this list which saw the team end up on the losing side. Chasing a daunting total of 254 against hosts India, the Three Lions batted bravely to stay in the game, only losing the game in the final over.

Jacob Bethell, 22, was the star of the innings for England who scored his maiden T20I century. The Warwickshire player hit 105 from just 48 balls to give his side hope of doing the impossible. He was accompanied brilliantly by Will Jacks (35) and Tom Banton (17 off nine balls). However, needing 30 from the last over was a bridge too far to cross for the Englishmen who would eventually fall to a seven-run defeat. 

1. India – 253/7 vs England, 2026

India have the honour of recording the highest score in a semi-final of the T20 World Cup when they scored 253 against England at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, March 5.

There were healthy contributions up and down the batting order, starting from Sanju Samson, who continued his good form in the tournament to score 89. Shivam Dube took control of the middle overs by scoring a 25-ball 47, with Hardik Pandya also playing a crucial hand of 27 from just 12 balls towards the end.

India will now face New Zealand in the final to become the first side to win the T20 World Cup three times.

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