Cricket
Top 10 Highest partnerships in T20 World Cup
The record for the highest T20 World Cup partnership is held by Alex Hales and Jos Buttler, who scored an unbeaten 170 runs for England against India in the 2022 semi-final in Adelaide. Have a look a list of some of the biggest partnerships in the tournament’s history.
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Since the inception of the T20 World Cup in 2007, we have witnessed several match-winning partnerships. The record for the highest partnership in T20 World Cup history is held by Alex Hales and Jos Buttler, who amassed an unbeaten 170 runs for England against India in 2022.
For India, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul hold the record with a formidable 140-run opening stand against Afghanistan in 2021. Check out a list of the top 10 highest partnerships in T20 World Cup history.
Highest partnerships in T20 World Cup – Top 10
Highest partnerships in T20 World Cup – Top 10
| Partners | Runs | Wkt | Team | Opposition | Ground | Year |
| AD Hales, JC Buttler | 170* | 1st | England | v India | Adelaide | 2022 |
| RR Rossouw, Q de Kock | 168 | 2nd | South Africa | v Bangladesh | Sydney | 2022 |
| KC Sangakkara, DPMD Jayawardene | 166 | 2nd | Sri Lanka | v West Indies | Bridgetown | 2010 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran | 154 | 1st | Afghanistan | v Uganda | Providence | 2024 |
| Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam | 152* | 1st | Pakistan | v India | Dubai | 2021 |
| EJG Morgan, AD Hales | 152 | 3rd | England | v Sri Lanka | Chattogram | 2014 |
| DS Smith, CH Gayle | 145 | 1st | West Indies | v South Africa | Johannesburg | 2007 |
| DPMD Jayawardene, TM Dilshan | 145 | 2nd | Sri Lanka | v England | Chattogram | 2014 |
| Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal | 142 | 1st | Pakistan | v Bangladesh | Gros Islet | 2010 |
| RG Sharma, KL Rahul | 140 | 1st | India | v Afghanistan | Abu Dhabi | 2021 |
Alex Hales, Jos Buttler - 170 runs*
In the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022 match against India at Adelaide, Alex Hales and Jos Buttler formed an unbeaten partnership of 170 runs for England. Both batsmen displayed exemplary stroke play and maintained a high scoring rate throughout the innings. Buttler scored an unbeaten 80 off 49 deliveries with the help of nine boundaries and three maximums. Hales, who was awarded the Player of the Match award, scored an unbeaten 86 off 47 laced with four boundaries and seven sixes. This T20 World Cup opening partnership record took England to a 10-wicket win.
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Rilee Rossouw, Quinton de Kock - 168 runs
The record for the second-highest partnership in the T20 World Cup is held by South Africa's Rilee Rossouw and Quinton de Kock, who went all guns blazing against Bangladesh in the 2022 edition. Batting first in Sydney, the two batsmen scored 168 runs for the second wicket to take the Proteas a total of 205/5. Rossouw was particularly impressive, scoring 109 off 56 with the help of seven boundaries and eight sixes. De Kock contributed with a 38-ball 63 which came at a strike rate of 165.78. South Africa went on to win the match by 104 runs after bowling out Bangladesh for 101.
Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene - 166 runs
Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene demonstrated their class in the 2010 T20 World Cup against West Indies in Bridgetown. Batting second, they crafted a partnership of 166 runs for the second wicket, which propelled Sri Lanka to a total of 195/3. Jayawardene top scored with an unbeaten 98 off 56, while Sangakkara chipped in with a 49-ball 68. Sri Lanka won the match by 57 runs after restricting the West Indies to 138/8.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran - 154 runs
During the 2024 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran batted fearlessly against Uganda at the Providence Stadium. The duo stitched together a 154-run partnership for the first wicket to take Afghanistan to a first innings total of 183/5. Gurbaz crafted 76 from 45 while Zadran contributed a 46-ball 70. In reply, Uganda could manage only 58 runs, handing a 125-run win to the Rashid Khan-led side.
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Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam - 152 runs*
Pakistan's two best T20I batsmen, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam formed an unbeaten partnership of 152 runs against India in the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai. Chasing 152 to win, the two opening batsmen wrapped up the match in only 17.5 overs. Rizwan scored 79* off 55 with six boundaries and three maximums while captain Babar Azam scored 68* off 52 at a strike rate of 130.76. Pakistan won the match by 10 wickets with 13 balls to spare.
Eoin Morgan, Alex Hales - 152 runs
In the 2014 T20 World Cup against Sri Lanka in Chattogram, England's Eoin Morgan and Alex Hales combined for a partnership of 152 runs for the third wicket. Coming together in the middle overs, the duo ensured that England chased down 190 without much pressure in the final over. Hales was at his devastating best, scoring an unbeaten 116 off just 64 balls with the help of 11 boundaries and six maximums. His knock came at a strike rate of 181.25. Morgan, on the other hand, scored 57 off 38.
Devon Smith, Chris Gayle - 145 runs
West Indies' Devon Smith and Chris Gayle set the stage on fire in the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup against South Africa in Johannesburg. Opening the innings, they compiled a partnership of 145 runs, laying a solid foundation with explosive hitting. Gayle scored the bulk of runs - 117 off 57 including seven boundaries and 10 huge sixes. Smith, meanwhile, contributed with a slow paced 34-ball 35. This partnership propelled the West Indies to a towering total of 205/6, but they were unable to defend it. South Africa chased down the target under 18 overs and won the match by eight wickets.
Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan - 145 runs
Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan combined brilliantly in the 2014 T20 World Cup against England in Chattogram. They put on a partnership of 145 runs for the second wicket to help their side finish on 189/4. Dilshan's contribution was 55 off 47 while Jayawardene top scored with a 51-ball 89. However, this partnership was overshadowed by a brilliant unbeaten century from Alex Hales, which guided England to a six-wicket win.
Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal - 142 runs
Pakistan's Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal provided a solid start in the 2010 T20 World Cup against Bangladesh in Gros Islet. Opening the innings, they compiled a partnership of 142 runs for the first wicket, laying a strong foundation with aggressive batting. Both the openers scored 73 runs each - Butt's knock was achieved at a strike rate of 132.72 while Akmal finishing his innings at a higher strike rate of 158.69. Pakistan successful defended 172 to win the match by 21 runs.
Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul - 140 runs
India's Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul formed a partnership of 140 runs for the first wicket against Afghanistan in the 2021 T20 World Cup in Abu Dhabi. KL scored 69 runs at a strike rate of 143.75 while Sharma's contribution was a knock of 74 that came at a strike rate of 157.44. After scoring 210-2 in their 20 overs, India went on to win the match by 66 runs.
FAQs
The highest second wicket partnership in the T20 World Cup is 168 runs, scored by Rilee Rossouw and Quinton de Kock in the 2022 edition against Bangladesh.
The highest first wicket partnership in the T20 World Cup is 170 runs, achieved by Alex Hales and Jos Buttler for England against India in the 2022 edition.
India's highest partnership in the T20 World Cup is 140 runs for the first wicket, made by Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul against Afghanistan in 2021.
Umaima Saeed is a professional sports writer whose articles have been featured in several leading websites. She writes long-form content on sports, particularly cricket. She has a penchant for telling human-interest stories. Umaima has contributed articles on cricket to more than a dozen publications, both in print and online.