Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake and Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming hold the record for the highest partnership in T20I history, with 258 unbeaten runs scored in February 2024. The ICC Men’s T20 International format is one of the most thrilling in cricket. Since the first T20I in 2005, the competition has seen legendary batting pairs showcase their skills on the biggest stage.
Several partnerships have left their mark with explosive run-scoring over the years. In this article, we look at the top 10 highest partnerships in T20I history.
Top 10 Highest Partnerships In T20I History
Let’s dive deep into the partnership stats in T20I cricket.
| # | Partners | Runs | Wicket | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L Yamamoto-Lake, K Kadowaki-Fleming | 258* | 1st | Japan | v China | Mong Kok | 15 Feb 2024 |
| 2 | Usman Ghani, Hazratullah Zazai | 236 | 1st | Afghanistan | v Ireland | Dehradun | 23 Feb 2019 |
| 3 | DJM Short, AJ Finch | 223 | 1st | Australia | v Zimbabwe | Harare | 3 Jul 2018 |
| 4 | Dylan Steyn, S Davizi | 220 | 1st | Czech Rep. | v Bulgaria | Marsa | 12 May 2022 |
| 5 | BA Pai, L Bruce | 213* | 1st | Gibraltar | v Bulgaria | Marsa | 13 May 2022 |
| 6 | NT Tilak Varma, SV Samson | 210* | 2nd | India | v South Africa | Johannesburg | 15 Nov 2024 |
| 7 | Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam | 203* | 1st | Pakistan | v England | Karachi | 22 Sep 2022 |
| 8 | HG Munsey, KJ Coetzer | 200 | 1st | Scotland | v Netherlands | Dublin (Malahide) | 16 Sep 2019 |
| 9 | Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam | 197 | 1st | Pakistan | v South Africa | Centurion | 14 Apr 2021 |
| 10 | BM Pecic, A Dizija | 197 | 1st | Serbia | v Slovenia | Belgrade | 7 Jun 2025 |
1. Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake and Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (258* Runs)
Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake and Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming sit at the top of the T20I partnership charts with 258 unbeaten runs. The Japanese opening pair achieved this feat on 15 February 2024 during the East Asia Cup match against China in Mong Kok.
| Partners | Runs | Wicket | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L Yamamoto-Lake, K Kadowaki-Fleming | 258* | 1st | Japan | v China | Mong Kok | 15 Feb 2024 |
Yamamoto-Lake smashed an unbeaten 134 off 68 balls with 8 fours and 12 sixes. Japan captain Kadowaki-Fleming played a supporting role with an unbeaten 109 off 53 balls, including 3 fours and 11 sixes. The duo batted through all 20 overs without losing a wicket. This marked the first time in international cricket history that a team completed its full quota of 20 overs without losing a single wicket. Japan finished with 258/0 and bowled out China for just 78 runs, winning by a massive 180 runs.
2. Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani (236 Runs)
Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani hold the second position with 236 runs in T20I history. The Afghan openers achieved this milestone on 23 February 2019 during the second T20I against Ireland at Dehradun.
| Partners | Runs | Wicket | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usman Ghani, Hazratullah Zazai | 236 | 1st | Afghanistan | v Ireland | Dehradun | 23 Feb 2019 |
Zazai was the star of the show with an incredible 162 not out off just 62 balls. His innings included 11 fours and a record 16 sixes, the most by any batter in a single T20I innings at that time. Usman Ghani played the perfect supporting role with 73 off 48 balls. Their partnership helped Afghanistan post 278/3, the highest T20I total at the time. The duo broke the previous record of 223 runs set by Aaron Finch and D’Arcy Short just seven months earlier.
3. D’Arcy Short and Aaron Finch (223 Runs)
D’Arcy Short and Aaron Finch take the third spot with 223 runs in T20I history. The Australian opening pair achieved this feat on 3 July 2018 during the T20 Tri-Series match against Zimbabwe at Harare.
| Partners | Runs | Wicket | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DJM Short, AJ Finch | 223 | 1st | Australia | v Zimbabwe | Harare | 3 Jul 2018 |
Australia captain Aaron Finch dominated the partnership with a record-breaking 172 off 76 balls. His innings featured 16 fours and 10 sixes. This remains the highest individual score in T20I history. D’Arcy Short played the anchor role perfectly, scoring 46 off 42 balls. This was the first 200-run partnership in T20I cricket. Finch got out in an unfortunate manner when he lost balance and hit the stumps with his bat while attempting a big shot.
4. Dylan Steyn and Sabawoon Davizi (220 Runs)
Dylan Steyn and Sabawoon Davizi occupy the fourth position with 220 runs in T20I history. The Czech Republic openers scored these runs on 12 May 2022 during the Valletta Cup match against Bulgaria at Marsa.
| Partners | Runs | Wicket | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dylan Steyn, S Davizi | 220 | 1st | Czech Rep. | v Bulgaria | Marsa | 12 May 2022 |
Both batters contributed significantly to this massive opening stand. The partnership helped the Czech Republic secure a comfortable victory over Bulgaria. This innings showcased the growing competitiveness of Associate Nations in T20I cricket. Sabawoon Davizi, in particular, has established himself as one of the most consistent performers for the Czech Republic in the shortest format.
5. Balaji Pai and Louis Bruce (213* Runs)
Balaji Pai and Louis Bruce hold the fifth position with 213 unbeaten runs in T20I history. The Gibraltar openers achieved this on 13 May 2022 during the Valletta Cup match against Bulgaria at Marsa.
| Partners | Runs | Wicket | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA Pai, L Bruce | 213* | 1st | Gibraltar | v Bulgaria | Marsa | 13 May 2022 |
This partnership came just one day after the Czech Republic pair set their record at the same venue. Pai and Bruce remained unbeaten throughout the innings, guiding Gibraltar to a dominant victory. The duo showed excellent coordination as they rotated strike and punished loose deliveries. Gibraltar has produced some impressive batting performances in recent years, with Pai and Bruce forming a reliable opening combination.
6. Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson (210* Runs)
Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson stand at sixth with 210 unbeaten runs in T20I history. The Indian batting pair achieved this on 15 November 2024 during the fourth T20I against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
| Partners | Runs | Wicket | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NT Tilak Varma, SV Samson | 210* | 2nd | India | v South Africa | Johannesburg | 15 Nov 2024 |
This is the highest second-wicket partnership in T20I history. Tilak Varma smashed an unbeaten 120 off just 47 balls with 9 fours and 10 sixes. Sanju Samson scored 109 not out off 56 balls, hitting 6 fours and 9 sixes. The duo added these runs in just 86 balls. India posted 283/1, their second-highest T20I total. This was Tilak Varma’s second consecutive T20I century, while Samson scored his third century of the calendar year.
7. Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam (203* Runs)
Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam take the seventh spot with 203 unbeaten runs in T20I history. The Pakistan opening pair achieved this on 22 September 2022 during the second T20I against England at Karachi.
| Partners | Runs | Wicket | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam | 203* | 1st | Pakistan | v England | Karachi | 22 Sep 2022 |
Pakistan chased down 200 without losing a wicket, completing the run chase with three balls to spare. Babar Azam scored his second T20I century with 110 not out off 66 balls, including 11 fours and 5 sixes. Mohammad Rizwan contributed 88 not out off 51 balls with 5 fours and 4 sixes. This remains the highest successful run chase without losing a wicket in T20I history. The partnership silenced critics who questioned their approach to T20 batting.
8. George Munsey and Kyle Coetzer (200 Runs)
George Munsey and Kyle Coetzer hold the eighth position with 200 runs in T20I history. The Scottish openers scored these runs on 16 September 2019 during the Ireland Tri-Series match against the Netherlands at Dublin (Malahide).
| Partners | Runs | Wicket | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HG Munsey, KJ Coetzer | 200 | 1st | Scotland | v Netherlands | Dublin (Malahide) | 16 Sep 2019 |
George Munsey was the star of this partnership with an unbeaten 127 off 56 balls, hitting 5 fours and 14 sixes. Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer played an excellent supporting role with 89 off 50 balls, including 11 fours and 5 sixes. This partnership helped Scotland defeat the Netherlands by 58 runs. This remains the highest opening partnership for Scotland in T20I cricket.
9. Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam (197 Runs)
Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam appear again at the ninth position with 197 runs. The Pakistan duo achieved this on 14 April 2021 during the third T20I against South Africa at Centurion.
| Partners | Runs | Wicket | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam | 197 | 1st | Pakistan | v South Africa | Centurion | 14 Apr 2021 |
Babar Azam scored his maiden T20I century in this match with 122 off 59 balls. His innings included 15 fours and 4 sixes. Mohammad Rizwan played the anchor role with 73 not out off 47 balls. Pakistan chased down 204 with five wickets and one ball to spare. This partnership demonstrated why Babar and Rizwan rank among the best opening pairs in T20I cricket history.
10. Braithyn Pecic and Alexander Dizija (197 Runs)
Braithyn Pecic and Alexander Dizija complete the top ten with 197 runs in T20I history. The Serbian openers achieved this feat on 7 June 2025 during the second T20I against Slovenia at Belgrade.
| Partners | Runs | Wicket | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BM Pecic, A Dizija | 197 | 1st | Serbia | v Slovenia | Belgrade | 7 Jun 2025 |
Braithyn Pecic was the dominant partner with a brilliant century of 102 off 42 balls, including 7 fours and 10 sixes. Alexander Dizija contributed 74 off 41 balls with 7 fours and 6 sixes. This partnership helped Serbia set up a commanding total against Slovenia. The performance highlighted the emergence of European Associate Nations in producing world-class batting partnerships.
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Conclusion: Yamamoto-Lake and Kadowaki-Fleming Have the Highest Partnership in T20I History (258*)
The top 10 partnerships in T20I history have shaped the format with brilliant performances over the years. Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake and Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming lead the pack with 258 unbeaten runs and continue to inspire future generations. Players like Hazratullah Zazai, Aaron Finch, and Babar Azam have shown that aggressive batting pays off on the biggest stages.
The mix of Full Member and Associate Nation pairs on this list shows the global appeal of T20I cricket. These batting pairs have provided countless memorable moments and will continue to be remembered as the format grows in stature.
