5 highest men's T20I scores for New Zealand

The New Zealand team have been one of the most underrated sides in International cricket and are known for their great determination and athleticism. The T20 format is where they have shown a lot of potential and have been giving consistent performances. There is no doubt there have been a lot of talented players in the side who have given some great innings for their nation. They might have not won a lot of international trophies but have shown a lot of grit and sportsmanship in the game of cricket. This side has always given us some memorable performances in all formats of the game.

The legacy of the New Zealand team goes way back from the time Glenn Turner scored 171 runs to get the highest individual score in those times to Brendon Mccullum achieving the first 150+ score in the T20 format. All this has given rise to a team filled with players who have the ability to single handedly win games. The T20I format is where the Black caps came into recognition looking to dominate every team they came up against and was also the only team to defeat the Indians in the 2007 T20 World Cup as well.

It is safe to say that we have seen some big totals from some great Kiwi batters in the shortest format of international cricket. These turned out to be scores that have gone into the record books straight away. These innings we are talking about have been some of the best moments witnessed by New Zealand cricket in a long time. These will always hold a special place in everyone who has supported this team for a number of years in international cricket and have given us some big matches to the cricketing world.

 Here are the five highest individual scores by a Kiwi batter in T20 internationals:

5. Glenn Philips 108 vs West Indies

The first on the list is New Zealand’s upcoming middle order batter Glenn Phillips who scored an amazing 108 from 51 deliveries  at a strike rate of 211.76 which included 10 fours and 8 sixes. This was an innings that set Mount Maunganui on fire and took New Zealand to a massive total of 238 and further dominated the West Indies side in the game. This innings was also what put Phillips in the reckoning to be a future superstar for the black caps and with his skills in the field have made him an impact player for the nation.

4. Colin Munro 109 vs India

It is never easy to beat India in their homeground especially in 2017 where they were having some of their best years in cricket. However Colin Munro had other plans when he smashed a terrific 109 of 58 deliveries which included 7 fours and 7 sixes. This was the time where the Indian bowlers found it tough to bowl to a batter. Munro was dominating every Indian bowler in the match and took them to a total of 196 which was easily defended by the bowlers in the end. This was also the moment Munro had started his run being one of the highest Kiwi run scorers in the T20 format.

3. Brendon Mccullum 116 vs Australia

This was perhaps one of the best innings you could ever see from Brendon Mccullum in one of the best matches in T20I’s which featured one of the greatest rivalries between New Zealand and Australia. Mccullum was the star of the scoring 116 from 56 deliveries at a strike rate of above 200. This innings included 12 fours and 8 sixes where Mccullum completely obliterated one of the best pace attacks in the world. The match also featured one of the first few super overs in the format.

2. Brendon Mccullum 123 vs Bangladesh

This was another innings featuring Brendon Mccullum once again in the mix this time against Bangladesh. This was also in the T20 World Cup 2012, where Mccullum was once again at his best scoring 123 from just 58 deliveries and striking at over 200 as usual. Mccullum was enjoying smashing the Bangladesh bowlers for runs all around the park. This knock included 11 fours and 7 sixes and was the highest individual score for a Kiwi batter for a long time and made Mccullum a household name in New Zealand cricket.

1. Finn Allen 137 vs Pakistan

It had taken more than 10 years to beat Mccullum’s score and it was finally done recently by the upcoming T20 opener Finn Allen who completely destroyed the Pakistan pace bowlers in the 3rd T20I in Dunedin. Allen played an explosive innings of 137 from 62 deliveries that included 5 fours and 16 sixes. The 27 run over of Haris Rauf who is the fastest bowler in the Pakistan team was a huge example of why the Kiwi’s have backed this young prodigy and why this innings will give him recognition.