T20 cricket is the most popular form of the game. Fans love it because they get to see fours and sixes regularly, big totals, and scores in fewer overs. Since T20 cricket came into existence, teams have been scoring and posting big totals. That is, even 200 total in 20 overs is not safe.
Teams are even losing after scoring more than 220 runs in this format. Here we will talk about the teams that have lost even after scoring big totals in the shorter format. This article will include all the big totals in the first inning that have been chased.
Highest Team Score in T20 International in Losing Cause
| Team | Score | Vs | Venue | Date | Result |
| West Indies | 258/5 | South Africa | SuperSport Park | 26/03/2023 | South Africa won by 6 wickets |
| Australia | 245/5 | New Zealand | Eden Park | 16/02/2018 | Australia won by 5 wickets |
| South Africa | 231/7 | West Indies | Wanderers Stadium | 11/01/2015 | West Indies won by 4 wickets |
| South Africa | 229/4 | England | Wanderers Stadium | 18/03/2016 | England won by 2 wickets |
| South Africa | 222/6 | England | SuperSport Park | 16/02/2020 | England won by 5 wickets |
| Sri Lanka | 214/6 | Bangladesh | R Premadasa Stadium | 10/03/2018 | Bangladesh won by 5 wickets |
| India | 211/4 | South Africa | Arun Jaitley Stadium | 09/06/2022 | South Africa won by 7 wickets |
| India | 208/6 | 20/09/2022 | PCA Stadium | 20/09/2022 | Australia won by 4 wickets |
| West Indies | 207/5 | India | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium | 06/12/2019 | India won by 6 wickets |
| West Indies | 207/3 | Pakistan | National Stadium (Karachi) | 16/12/2021 | Pakistan won by 7 wickets |
3. South Africa (231/7) vs West Indies in 2015
Scoring more than 230 and still losing is very rare. But it happened earlier in January 2015 in Johannesburg, between South Africa and West Indies. This was the second game of the series, and West Indies won the toss and decided to bowl first. South Africa had a brilliant batting display, despite a poor start of 21/2. Skipper Faf du Plessis scored a brilliant ton and made 119 off 56 runs, with 11 fours and five sixes.
David Miller made 47 off 26. South Africa posted a massive total of 231/7 in 20 overs. It looked challenging against South African bowling. But Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels set the ton. Gayle made 90 off 41, while Samuels scored a 39-ball 60. West Indies reached 236/6 in 19.2 overs to win the game.
2. New Zealand (243/6) vs Australia in 2018
The second-biggest score in a losing cause was registered in a game between New Zealand and Australia in Auckland in February 2018. It was the fifth game of the Tri-Series. Batting first, New Zealand got off to a flying start with a 132-run opening stand. Colin Munro made 76 off 33, with six fours and six sixes. Martin Guptill had a superb century. He scored 105 off 54, with six fours and nine sixes.
New Zealand made a big total of 243/6 in the first inning. Australia needed a good start to chase the total, and that’s what happened. David Warner and D’Arcy Short added a 121-run partnership for the first wicket. Warner made 59 off 24 and Short scored 76 off 44. Glenn Maxwell (31 off 14) and Aaron Finch (36* off 14) helped Australia reach 245/5 in 18.5 overs to chase down the second-biggest total.
1. West Indies (258/5) vs South Africa in 2023
The biggest T20I score in a losing cause was recorded in a game between South Africa and West Indies in Centurion in March 2023. This game produced the most runs in a completed T20I game in history. Batting first, West Indies posted their highest T20I total. Kyle Mayers scored a 27-ball 51. Johnson Charles scored West Indies’ fastest T20I century off 39 balls. He made 118 off 46, with 10 fours and 11 sixes.
West Indies ended up scoring 258/5 in the first innings. The pitch was good, and South Africa backed them. Both openers added a 152-run stand. Reeza Hendricks made 68 off 28 balls. Quinton de Kock scored 100 off 44 balls, with nine fours and eight sixes. Aiden Markram scored 38 not out from 21 balls. South Africa made 259/4 in 18.5 overs to win the game.