A staggering 499 runs and 34 sixes lit up the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as the India national cricket team defeated the England cricket team by seven runs at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.
India powered their way to 253 for 7 in 20 overs before England’s spirited chase finished on 246, producing one of the most remarkable high-scoring encounters in the tournament’s history and sending the match deep into the record books.
Highest knockout total in T20 World Cup history
India’s total of 253 became the fourth-highest team score in T20 World Cup history and the highest ever recorded in a knockout match.
Before this contest, the only team to cross 200 in a knockout game had been the West Indies cricket team, who made 205 for 4 against the Australia national cricket team in the semi-final of the 2012 ICC World Twenty20.
India also became the first team to register two 250-plus totals in a single T20 World Cup. Earlier in the tournament they had smashed 256 for 4 against the Zimbabwe national cricket team in Chennai.
Overall, India have now crossed the 250-run mark six times in T20 cricket — more than any other international side.
Record aggregate runs in a T20 World Cup match
England’s reply of 246 took the combined match total to 499 runs — the highest aggregate ever recorded in a T20 World Cup match.
The previous record of 459 runs came in a clash between England and the South Africa national cricket team at the same venue during the 2016 ICC World Twenty20.
Across all international T20 matches, only one game has produced more runs — the 517-run contest between South Africa and the West Indies cricket team in Centurion in 2023.
Six-hitting frenzy lights up Wankhede
The match also witnessed a barrage of sixes. A total of 34 were struck — 19 by India and 15 by England — the most ever in a single T20 World Cup match.
The previous record had been 31 sixes, set earlier in the tournament in the match between West Indies and Zimbabwe at the same venue.
India’s 19 sixes equalled the record for the most by a team in a T20 World Cup innings. The mark had previously been reached by West Indies against Zimbabwe in this edition and by the Netherlands national cricket team against the Ireland cricket team in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20.
India’s overall six tally in the tournament also climbed to 88 — the most by any team in a single T20 World Cup or any international T20 tournament, surpassing the previous record of 78 set by the Bulgaria national cricket team in a tri-series in 2025.
Archer’s unwanted record
England pacer Jofra Archer endured a difficult outing, conceding seven sixes — the joint-most by any bowler in a T20 World Cup match.
He finished with figures of 1 for 61 in four overs, the most expensive spell by an England bowler in the tournament’s history, overtaking the previous mark held by Stuart Broad.
Bethell’s heroic century in vain
England’s chase was powered by a sensational innings from Jacob Bethell, who hammered 105 from just 48 balls.
His knock is now the highest individual score in a T20 World Cup knockout match.
The previous record had been set only a day earlier by Finn Allen, who struck an unbeaten 100 for the New Zealand national cricket team against South Africa in the first semi-final.
Bethell also achieved a unique milestone, becoming the first cricketer to register his maiden centuries in first-class, List A and T20 formats at the international level.
Centuries in defeat
Bethell’s ton also joined a rare list. It was only the third instance of a player scoring a century in a T20 World Cup match but finishing on the losing side.
Previously, Chris Gayle had scored a hundred for West Indies against South Africa in 2007, while Yuvraj Singh Samra did the same for the Canada national cricket team against New Zealand earlier in this tournament.
Samson’s knock sets the tone
India’s innings was built around a blistering effort from Sanju Samson, whose 89 from 42 balls laid the foundation for the imposing total.
Meanwhile, Shivam Dube endured an unusual statistic, becoming only the second batter to be run out three times in a single T20 World Cup edition after MS Dhoni in the inaugural tournament in 2007.
Costly night for Varun
India spinner Varun Chakravarthy also had a difficult outing, conceding 64 runs in four overs — the most expensive spell by an Indian bowler in T20 World Cup history.
The previous record had belonged to Joginder Sharma.
Among all bowlers in the tournament’s history, only Saurabh Netravalkar of the United States national cricket team has conceded more, giving away 65 runs against India earlier in this edition.
India reach record ICC final
The victory also carried historical significance for India. It marked their 15th appearance in the final of an ICC tournament — the most by any team — moving them ahead of the Australia national cricket team, who have reached 14 finals.
