New Zealand batters have always taken a liking to big scores. Just ask Brendon McCullum. He was the second batter to score a century in T20Is, that too in 2010 when the format was still taking its baby steps.
Now plenty of Kiwi batters have gone past that mark, taking inspiration from McCullum’s love for big and quick scores.
That said, here’s a look at the highest individual scores by New Zealand batters in T20Is.
Highest T20I Batting Scores for NZ
| Player | Score (BF) | Boundary % | 4s/6s | SR | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finn Allen | 137 (62) | 84.67 | 5/16 | 220.96 | v Pakistan | Dunedin | 17 Jan 2024 |
| Brendon McCullum | 123 (58) | 70.00 | 11/7 | 212.06 | v Bangladesh | Pallekele | 21 Sep 2012 |
| Brendon McCullum | 116* (56) | 82.76 | 12/8 | 207.14 | v Australia | Christchurch | 28 Feb 2010 |
| Colin Munro | 109* (58) | 64.22 | 7/7 | 187.93 | v India | Rajkot | 4 Nov 2017 |
| Glenn Phillips | 108 (51) | 81.48 | 10/8 | 211.76 | v West Indies | Mount Maunganui | 29 Nov 2020 |
| Tim Robinson | 106* (66) | 50.94 | 6/5 | 160.60 | v Australia | Mount Maunganui | 1 Oct 2025 |
| Martin Guptill | 105 (54) | 74.29 | 6/9 | 194.44 | v Australia | Auckland | 16 Feb 2018 |
| Mark Chapman | 104* (57) | 65.38 | 11/4 | 182.45 | v Pakistan | Rawalpindi | 24 Apr 2023 |
| Colin Munro | 104 (53) | 69.23 | 3/10 | 196.22 | v West Indies | Mount Maunganui | 3 Jan 2018 |
| Glenn Phillips | 104 (64) | 61.54 | 10/4 | 162.50 | v Sri Lanka | Sydney | 29 Oct 2022 |
| Martin Guptill | 101* (69) | 71.29 | 9/6 | 146.37 | v South Africa | East London | 23 Dec 2012 |
| Colin Munro | 101 (54) | 69.31 | 7/7 | 187.03 | v Bangladesh | Mount Maunganui | 6 Jan 2017 |
| Finn Allen | 101 (56) | 67.33 | 8/6 | 180.35 | v Scotland | Edinburgh | 27 Jul 2022 |
| Finn Allen | 100* (33) | 88.00 | 10/8 | 303.03 | v South Africa | Eden Gardens | 4 Mar 2026 |
| Devon Conway | 99* (59) | 58.59 | 10/3 | 167.79 | v Australia | Christchurch | 22 Feb 2021 |
Key Insights on Record-Breaking Individual Knocks for New Zealand in T20I Cricket
Highest T20I Scores for New Zealand
Finn Allen has recorded the highest individual score for New Zealand in T20Is. He aggregated 137 off 62 balls at a strike rate of 220.96 against Pakistan in the 2024 Dunedin T20I. This is also the highest score by a New Zealand opener in T20Is.
Allen laced his 137 with 16 sixes, the most by a Kiwi batter in a T20I innings.
Aaron Redmond has struck the most fours for New Zealand in a T20I innings. He scored 13 boundaries in his 30-ball 63 against Ireland in Nottingham in the 2009 T20 World Cup.
Century Records for New Zealand in T20Is
Brendon McCullum was New Zealand’s first T20I centurion. He scored an unbeaten 116 from 56 balls at a strike rate of 207.14 against Australia in the 2010 Christchurch T20I.
Allen and Colin Munro have smashed the joint most centuries for New Zealand in T20Is, with three knocks each.
Highest Away, Non-Opener and Captain’s T20I Knocks for New Zealand
McCullum has brought up the highest individual score for New Zealand in an away T20I. He smashed 123 off 58 balls at a strike rate of 212.06 against Bangladesh in Pallekele in the 2012 T20 World Cup. This is also the highest score by a batter in the T20 World Cup.
McCullum’s 123 is also the highest score by a non-opener and a wicketkeeper for the Kiwis in T20Is. Overall, this is the second-highest score by a wicketkeeper in T20Is.
Kane Williamson has registered the highest individual score as New Zealand’s captain in T20Is. He scored 95 off 48 balls at a strike rate of 197.91 against India in the 2020 Hamilton T20I.
Highest Knocks in Debut, Defeats and Chases in T20Is for New Zealand
Scott Styris has notched up the highest individual score for New Zealand on T20I debut. He scored 66 from 39 balls at a strike rate of 169.23 in the first-ever T20I match in 2005.
Tim Robinson has aggregated the highest score for New Zealand in a losing T20I. His unbeaten 106 off 66 balls went in vain against Australia in the 2025 Mount Maunganui T20I as the Kiwis failed to defend 182.
Martin Guptill is the other New Zealand batter with a T20I century in a defeat, with 105 off 54 balls against Australia in the 2018 Auckland game.
Mark Chapman has recorded the highest individual score for the Blackcaps in a successful T20I run chase. He helped his side chase down 194 runs with his unbeaten 104 from 57 balls against Pakistan in the 2023 Rawalpindi T20I.
Fastest Fifty and Century for New Zealand in T20Is
Munro has achieved the highest batting strike rate for New Zealand in a T20I innings (minimum 10 balls faced). He struck at 357.14 while smashing an unbeaten 50 off 14 balls against Sri Lanka in the 2016 Auckland T20I. This is also the fastest fifty by a New Zealand batter in T20Is.
The fastest T20I century by a New Zealand batter belongs to Allen. He took just 33 balls to score an unbeaten 100 against South Africa at Eden Gardens in the 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final. (Check out the fastest T20I centuries by teams here.)
Allen’s unbeaten 100 against South Africa is the second-highest individual score by a batter in the T20 World Cup knockouts.
Read Next | Most Centuries at 100+ Strike Rate in Test
