New Zealand has yet to win the T20 World Cup, but they have played in four semi-finals, including a final in 2021. But luck hasn’t gone their way, and they are yet to get their hands on the ICC trophy in the shorter format. But despite all this, nothing can take away from New Zealand’s success in T20 cricket.
Famously known as “Black Caps and Kiwi,” New Zealand is not an easy opponent to face. It shows in some of their big records in this form of the game. In their history, the Black Caps have won a number of one-sided games and have two wins over 100 runs in T20Is. In this article, we will talk about the biggest margin wins for New Zealand in shorter format.
Biggest Win Margin in T20 for New Zealand
Margin | Target | Agianst | Venue | Date |
119 runs | 244 | West Indies | Mount Maunganui | 3 Jan 2018 |
102 runs | 255 | Scotland | Edinburgh | 29 Jul 2022 |
95 runs | 197 | Scotland | Wellington | 22 Jan 2016 |
90 runs | 216 | West Indies | Kingston | 12 Aug 2022 |
89 runs | 201 | Australia | Sydney | 22 Oct 2022 |
88 runs | 180 | Ireland | Belfast | 20 Jul 2022 |
83 runs | 199 | Ireland | Nottingham | 11 Jun 2009 |
81 runs | 190 | West Indies | Auckland | 11 Jan 2014 |
80 runs | 199 | Zimbabwe | Harare | 9 Aug 2015 |
80 runs | 220 | India | Wellington | 6 Feb 2019 |
3. New Zealand (95 runs) vs Pakistan in January 2016
The Black Caps registered their third-biggest T20I win in 2016 when Pakistan came for a three-match T20I tour. It was the third and final game in Wellington. After winning the toss, the Men in Green asked the hosts to bat first. New Zealand had a decent start with a 57-run opening stand. Martin Guptill played a blinder of 42 off 19 balls, while Kane Williamson also supported him well with a 33-run knock.
Corey Anderson played one of the best T20I knocks. He hit a 25-ball fifty and made 82 not out from 42 balls, including six fours and four sixes. New Zealand posted a big total of 196/5 in the first inning. Chasing the target, Pakistan lost their top three batters for just 15 runs on the board. They only managed 101 all out in 16.1 overs and lost the game by 95 runs.
2. New Zealand (102 runs) vs Scotland in July 2022
The second-biggest win for New Zealand came against Scotland in July 2022. It was the second game of the two T20Is in Edinburgh. New Zealand had a slow start to their batting inning. But then, came some quick innings in the middle. Mark Chapman scored 83 off 44 balls, with five fours and seven sixes. Michael Bracewell hit a 22-ball fifty and scored 61 not out from 25 balls.
Daryl Mitchell (31 off 19) and James Neesham (28* off 12) also made a useful cameos which helped New Zealand to reach a total of 254/4 in the 20 overs. In reply, many Scottish batters got a start, but none of them could convert it into a big one against a disciplined Kiwi attack. They scored 152/9 in the chase and lost the game by 102 runs.
1. New Zealand (119 runs) vs West Indies in January 2018
The biggest win in New Zealand’s cricket history came in January 2018 when the West Indies were there for three T20Is. It was reorded the third and final game in Mount Maunganui. The hosts won the toss and decided to bat first. They had a huge opening stand for 136 runs in 11.3 overs. Martin Guptill scored 63 off 38 balls, with five fours and two sixes in that inning.
On the other hand, Colin Munro smashed a 47-ball century. He made 104 runs from 53 balls, with three fours and 10 sixes. New Zealand posted their second-highest T20I total of 243/5 in the first inning. After the batters, the Kiwi bowlers also did an amazing job. They bowled out the West Indies for 124 runs in 16.3 overs to help New Zealand register a 119-run win.