These five scores were also racked up on just three different days and on two grounds, with the highest score being set on 25 March before being beaten that same day. That score was improved upon six days later and, in turn, that record was further raised 80 days later and, once again, was broken later in the day.
The record also changed hands from one country to another each time, with only the England Women featuring twice on this list as record-holders, although they also twice had the highest score taken off them. That fact alone should serve as some comfort for the embattled Proteas Women who have suffered four losses on the trot (two in ODIs, two in T20Is) on their England tour following the high of an emphatic seven-wicket win in the first ODI of the season.
India, 198/4 v England, Mumbai – 25 March
Smriti Mandhana sparkled at the top of the order and left senior partner Mithali Raj in the dust – the youngster contributed 76 to an opening stand of 129 – before Pooja Vastrakar added a 10-ball 22 to push India to the second-highest T20I total of all time, and the brink of 200. Never before had a team got close to chasing so many.
Most expensive bowler: England Women – Katie George 2-0-26-0 (13.00)
England, 199/3 v India, Mumbai – 25 March
Having just conceded the world record score in an innings off their bowling, the England batters were not deterred, as they made a mockery of the steepest of asks. Danni Wyatt was the star, adding a second hundred in consecutive T20I knocks, and both in record chases. Smashing 124 off just 64 balls – 105 of which came in boundaries – just 59 of England’s runs while she was at the crease came via another source. England made history and did it with more than an over to spare.
Most expensive bowler: India Women Anuja Patil 3-0-40-0 (13.33)
Australia, 209/4 v England, Mumbai – 31 March
Just six days after the melee in Mumbai, Australia bettered both India and England in the final of the T20 tri-series involving the three sides, and this time there would be no Wyatt rescue act. Meg Lanning was the main architect, as she so often is, striking 16 fours in a brutal unbeaten 45-ball 88. She received able support from Elyse Villani, whose 30-ball 51 pushed Australia to the highest total in T20I history.
Most expensive bowlers: England Women – Alice Davidson-Richards 1-0-17-0 (17.00) and Sophie Ecclestone 4-0-41-0 (10.25)
New Zealand, 216/1 v South Africa, Taunton – 20 June
With this list starting to read like a Who’s Who of greats of the game, it was only natural that White Ferns legend Suzie Bates got involved. She made 124 off just 66 balls, adding 182 for the first wicket with Sophie Devine, a record for any wicket in men’s and women’s T20Is. A further 29 added with Katey Martin (11*) helped New Zealand to 216/1, meaning Australia’s record had stood for less than three months.
Most expensive bowler: Proteas Women – Sune Luus 2-0-29-0 (14.50)
England, 250/3 v South Africa, Taunton – 20 June
New Zealand’s record innings score stood for little more than three hours. You’d expect Danni Wyatt to play a big role, but though she made a quick half-century, she was largely reduced to a supporting role by the belligerence of Tammy Beaumont, who razed the Proteas with a 47-ball century, the second-fastest in women’s T20Is. Even after she fell England kept coming, as Nat Sciver and Katherine Brunt added 64 in 26 breathless balls. After the former fell, captain Heather Knight strode to the wicket to face a solitary delivery, chipped a single, and brought up England’s 250. Based on what we’ve seen this year, expect the mark to stand for about five minutes.
Most expensive bowlers: Proteas Women – Sune Luus 1-0-16-0 (16.00), Stacy Lackay 4-0-59-2 (14.75) and Masabata Klaas 4-0-59-0 (14.75)
And the other highest score?
The other highest score among the top six was when the Proteas Women scored 205/1 against the Netherlands in 2010, with Shandre Fritz scoring a sensational 116 off 71 balls (S/R 163.38) in what was Masabata Klaas’s T20I debut. Klaas took 2-20 off her four overs as the Proteas Women won by 115 runs.
Photo: Julian Herbert/Getty Images
