On its day, a team in a T20 match can destroy its opposition. T20 cricket is a game of power, skills, mind, and luck. When all four of these components combine on a day for a team, the team becomes a win machine. In T20 World Cup history, some teams completely outplayed their oppositions in every department. Let us unveil before you the Top 10 Biggest Victories In Men’s T20 World Cup Matches (By Runs)-
1. Sri Lanka (172 runs against Kenya)
Sri Lanka clashed with Kenya in a 2007 match in Johannesburg. Kenya won the toss and decided to field first. Sri Lanka rode on the quickfire knocks from Sanath Jayasuriya (88 off 44), Kumar Sangakkara (30 off 18), Mahela Jayawardena (65 off 27), and Jehan Mubarak (46* off 13) to post 260/6. Kenya was no match for the Sri Lankans. Sri Lankan bowlers shared the wickets among themselves and bowled out Kenya for 88. The Sri Lankans won the match by 172 runs.
2. South Africa (130 runs against Scotland)
South Africa clashed with Scotland in 2009 in Kennington Oval (London). AB de Villiers’ explosive 34-ball-79* (5 fours, 6 sixes) powered South Africa to 211/5. In the second innings, apart from Kyle Coetzer (42 off 32), none of the Scottish batters showed any fight. Scotland was bowled out for 81. The Proteas won the match by 130 runs.
3. Afghanistan (130 runs against Scotland)
Afghanistan clashed with Scotland in the Super League of the 2021 T20 World Cup. In this match at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Afghanistan batted first. All 5 Afghan batters scored at a strike rate of 120+ to help their team post 190/4. In reply, Scottish batters had no answers to Mujeeb ur Rahman and Rashid Khan. Mujeeb picked up his maiden 5-wicket haul in T20Is while Rashid took 4 wickets. Scotland was shot out on 60 and lost the match by 130 runs.
4. England (116 runs against Afghanistan)
Premadasa Stadium in Colombo hosted the match between England and Afghanistan in the 2012 World Cup. Luke Wright’s 99* (55 balls) helped England post 196/5. Despite Gulbadin Naib’s late fireworks, Afghanistan couldn’t avoid a 116-run defeat.
5. India (90 runs against England)
2 days after England defeated Afghanistan by 116 runs, India defeated England by 90 runs at the same venue. Crucial knocks by Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma powered India to 170/4. Harbhajan Singh then registered his best T20I figures of 4/12 to rattle England to 80. India won the match by 90 runs.
6. West Indies (84 runs against Pakistan)
In the 2014 T20 World Cup, West Indies played a match against Pakistan in Mirpur. Dwayne Bravo scored a 26-ball-46 while captain Daren Sammy scored a 20-ball-42* to propel West Indies to 166/6. Pakistan found West Indies bowlers hard to deal with and eventually conceded the match by 84 runs.
7. Bangladesh (84 runs against Papua New Guinea)
In the 2021 T20 World Cup, Bangladesh was just one win away from qualifying for the Super League. In this match against Papua New Guinea in Muscat, Mahmudullah’s 28-ball-50 and Shakib al Hasan’s 37-ball-46 took Bangladesh to 181/7. Despite Kiplin Doriga’s unbeaten 46, Papua New Guinea was bowled out for 97. Shakib took 4 wickets for 9 runs. Bangladesh won the match by 84 runs and advanced to the Super League in style.
8. New Zealand (83 runs against Ireland)
Nottingham was the venue for the match between New Zealand and Ireland in 2009. Four Kiwi batters struck at over 140 to guide New Zealand to 198/5. Aaron Redmond scored 63 in just 30 balls. Nathan McCullum then took 3 wickets to skittle Ireland for just 115. New Zealand won the match by 83 runs.
9. Pakistan (82 runs against the Netherlands)
This was the last match of Group B in the group stage. Pakistan clashed with the Netherlands at Lord’s. Kamran Akmal (41), Shoaib Malik (30), Younis Khan (36), and Misbah-ul-Haq (31) took Pakistan to 175/5. In the second innings, Kamran Akmal effected 4 stumpings (joint-most in T20Is) and Shahid Afridi took 4 wickets to bundle out the Dutch team on 93. Pakistan won the match by 82 runs.
10. Sri Lanka (82 runs against Zimbabwe)
Hosts Sri Lanka locked horns with Zimbabwe in Hambantota in 2012. Tillakaratne Dilshan (39), Kumar Sangakkara (44), and Jeevan Mendis (43) propelled Sri Lanka to 182/4. Ajantha Mendis then recorded the figures (erstwhile best T20I bowling figures) of 6/8 in 4 overs to skittle out Zimbabwe for 100. Sri Lanka defeated Zimbabwe by 82 runs.
