Highest 3rd Wicket Partnership in the History of T20 International

Kushal Malla and Rohit Paudel of Nepal hold the record for the highest third-wicket partnership in Men's T20 International history. The pair added 193 runs for the third wicket against Mongolia in 2023 during the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

Malla produced an extraordinary unbeaten 137, while Nepal captain Rohit Paudel scored 61. Their partnership powered Nepal to a huge total and remains the highest third-wicket stand in Men's T20Is through 2026.

New Zealand's Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips are second with 184 against West Indies, while England's Dawid Malan and Eoin Morgan are third with 182 against New Zealand.

Highest 3rd Wicket Partnerships in T20 International Cricket

Nepal appear twice in the top four, while Eoin Morgan is involved in two of England's biggest third-wicket stands.

1. Kushal Malla and Rohit Paudel – 193 vs Mongolia, 2023

Kushal Malla and Rohit Paudel created the highest third-wicket partnership in Men's T20I history when they added 193 against Mongolia in 2023.

The match was played during the Asian Games at the Zhejiang University of Technology Cricket Field in Hangzhou.

Nepal had already started quickly when Malla joined captain Rohit Paudel. The pair then took the innings to another level.

Malla attacked almost immediately, while Rohit provided strong support from the other end. Their partnership added 193 runs in fewer than 11 overs.

Kushal Malla Scored 137 Not Out

Malla produced one of the most explosive innings in T20I history.

He finished unbeaten on 137.

His century came from only 34 balls, which made it the fastest men's T20I hundred at the time.

The left-hander kept clearing the boundary and gave Mongolia almost no chance to slow Nepal's scoring rate.

Malla's innings was the main reason the third-wicket partnership grew so quickly.

Rohit Paudel Scored 61

Rohit Paudel also played an important innings.

The Nepal captain scored 61 from 27 balls, maintaining a very high strike rate while Malla attacked from the other end.

This was not a partnership where one batter simply defended while the other scored.

Both players attacked.

That balance allowed Nepal to keep adding runs at an exceptional rate throughout the stand.

Nepal Scored 314/3

The partnership helped Nepal reach 314/3 from 20 overs.

It was a historic team total.

Dipendra Singh Airee then added an extraordinary late finish, reaching his fifty from only nine balls.

Mongolia were bowled out for 41 in reply, and Nepal completed a huge victory.

The match produced several world records, but Malla and Paudel's 193-run third-wicket stand remains one of its biggest achievements.

Why the 193-Run Record Is So Difficult to Break

A third-wicket partnership cannot begin until two wickets have already fallen.

That makes a record of 193 especially difficult.

Unlike an opening pair, the batters do not have the entire 20 overs available.

They need to score extremely quickly while also avoiding another wicket.

Malla and Paudel managed both.

Their stand reached almost 200 runs even though Nepal had already lost two batters before they came together.

2. Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips – 184 vs West Indies, 2020

Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips hold New Zealand's record for the highest third-wicket partnership in T20Is with 184 against West Indies.

The pair produced the stand at Mount Maunganui.

Phillips played the more aggressive innings and scored 108, while Conway remained unbeaten on 65.

Their partnership pushed New Zealand to a huge total and put West Indies under pressure before the chase even began.

Glenn Phillips Scored a Brilliant Century

Phillips reached his hundred rapidly.

He attacked both pace and spin and regularly cleared the boundary.

His 108 was one of the best T20I innings by a New Zealand middle-order batter.

Conway played the perfect supporting role.

He kept rotating the strike, punished loose deliveries and stayed unbeaten.

Together, they added 184 for the third wicket.

Conway and Phillips Complemented Each Other

Large T20 partnerships often work best when the two batters play different roles.

Phillips supplied explosive power.

Conway provided control and consistency.

Because Conway also scored quickly, West Indies could not focus only on stopping Phillips.

That made the partnership extremely difficult to break.

3. Dawid Malan and Eoin Morgan – 182 vs New Zealand, 2019

Dawid Malan and Eoin Morgan added 182 runs for England against New Zealand in Napier in 2019.

Malan scored an unbeaten 103, while Morgan made 91.

England had lost two wickets, but the dismissals did not slow the scoring rate.

Malan and Morgan attacked New Zealand's bowlers through the middle and death overs and pushed England to a huge total.

For several years, their 182-run stand remained one of the closest challenges to the world record.

Malan Scored an Unbeaten Century

Malan's innings combined timing with powerful hitting.

He reached his hundred and stayed unbeaten until the end.

Morgan, meanwhile, played one of his typically aggressive T20 innings and came close to a century himself.

The two left-handers made it difficult for New Zealand to find favourable bowling matchups.

Their 182-run partnership remains England's highest for the third wicket in Men's T20Is.

4. Kushal Bhurtel and Dipendra Singh Airee – 171 vs Philippines, 2022

Nepal appear again near the top of the list through Kushal Bhurtel and Dipendra Singh Airee.

The pair added 171 runs for the third wicket against the Philippines in 2022.

Bhurtel finished unbeaten on 104, while Airee scored 83.

The stand was another example of Nepal's increasingly aggressive T20 batting approach.

Both players could score boundaries while also running well between the wickets.

Nepal Have Two Huge Third-Wicket Partnerships

Nepal are unusual because two different pairs appear among the top four.

That gives Nepal both the world record and another partnership above 170.

5. Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli – 162 vs West Indies, 2026

Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli created Afghanistan's highest third-wicket T20I partnership with 162 against West Indies in 2026.

Ibrahim remained unbeaten on 87, while Rasooli made 84.

The partnership came in Dubai and showed the strength of Afghanistan's developing batting unit.

For many years, Afghanistan were best known for their spin bowling.

Partnerships such as this showed that their batting had also become capable of producing big international totals.

Ibrahim Provided Stability

Ibrahim Zadran is naturally more controlled than many aggressive T20 batters.

His ability to stay at the crease gave Rasooli freedom to attack.

Both players still maintained strong scoring rates.

By the time the partnership ended, they had added 162, placing Afghanistan high on the all-time third-wicket list.

6. Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen – 157 vs Pakistan, 2024

Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen added 157 for South Africa against Pakistan at Centurion.

Hendricks scored a brilliant 117, while van der Dussen remained unbeaten on 66.

South Africa had lost two wickets, but the pair rebuilt quickly and then accelerated hard.

Their partnership became South Africa's highest for the third wicket in Men's T20 Internationals.

Reeza Hendricks Led the Attack

Hendricks was the main aggressor.

Once he settled, he began attacking both Pakistan's fast bowlers and spinners.

Van der Dussen gave him support and made sure the scoring rate did not drop at the other end.

The pair's 157-run partnership put South Africa in control.

7. Joshua Podosky and Andrew Donovan – 157 vs South Korea, 2025

The Philippines also have a 157-run partnership in the record list.

Joshua Podosky and Andrew Donovan added 157 against South Korea in 2025.

Podosky scored 101, while Donovan made 68.

Their partnership showed the growing depth of international T20 cricket, with more emerging nations now appearing in global batting records.

8. Liam Woods and Leslie Dunbar – 154 vs Croatia, 2025

Liam Woods and Leslie Dunbar added 154 for Serbia against Croatia in 2025.

Woods scored 112, while Dunbar contributed 56.

The partnership became one of Serbia's biggest T20I batting achievements.

Woods' century gave the innings its main momentum, while Dunbar's support allowed the pair to remain together long enough to cross 150.

9. William Burton and Leslie Dunbar – 153 vs Slovenia, 2025

Leslie Dunbar appears again in the top ten.

He added 153 with William Burton against Slovenia.

Burton made 84 not out, while Dunbar scored 72.

Having two separate third-wicket partnerships above 150 shows how important Dunbar has been to Serbia's middle order.

10. Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan – 152 vs Sri Lanka, 2014

Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan added 152 for England against Sri Lanka during the 2014 Men's T20 World Cup.

England were chasing a difficult target and lost two early wickets.

Hales and Morgan then produced one of the finest third-wicket partnerships in T20 World Cup history.

Hales finished unbeaten on 116, while Morgan made 57.

England completed the chase, with the 152-run partnership providing the foundation.

Alex Hales Scored England's First T20I Century

Hales' unbeaten 116 was a major moment for England.

He became the first England men's batter to score a T20I century.

Morgan supported him with aggressive batting of his own.

The partnership was especially impressive because it came in a global tournament under pressure.

It remains one of the greatest third-wicket stands in T20 World Cup history.

Highest 3rd Wicket Partnership for India in T20Is

Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav hold India's highest third-wicket partnership in Men's T20Is with 137 runs against New Zealand in the 2025-26 season.

Kishan scored 103, while Suryakumar contributed 63.

Their partnership moved ahead of several previous Indian third-wicket stands.

India have produced several productive third-wicket combinations across different T20 eras.

Highest 3rd Wicket Partnership for Pakistan in T20Is

Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman hold Pakistan's highest third-wicket partnership with 140 runs against Ireland in 2024.

Rizwan scored an unbeaten 75, while Fakhar made 78.

The pair came together after Pakistan had lost early wickets and rebuilt the chase.

Fakhar provided aggression while Rizwan controlled the innings from the other end.

Their 140-run stand remains Pakistan's leading third-wicket partnership.

Other Major Pakistan Third-Wicket Partnerships

Babar Azam and Haris Sohail added 103 against England in 2019.

Mohammad Hafeez and Umar Akmal also added 102 against South Africa in 2013.

Pakistan have had many strong top-order combinations, but Rizwan and Fakhar moved the third-wicket national record significantly higher in 2024.

Highest 3rd Wicket Partnership for New Zealand

New Zealand's record belongs to Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips with 184 against West Indies.

Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson also added 137 against Zimbabwe earlier in New Zealand's T20I history.

New Zealand have traditionally relied on flexible batting orders, allowing players such as Conway, Williamson and Phillips to build major partnerships even after early wickets.

Highest 3rd Wicket Partnership for England

Dawid Malan and Eoin Morgan lead England with 182 against New Zealand.

Alex Hales and Morgan are also inside the overall top ten with 152 against Sri Lanka.

Morgan's presence in both partnerships shows how important he was to England's middle-order T20 batting.

He could rebuild after early wickets but was also capable of accelerating very quickly.

Highest 3rd Wicket Partnership for South Africa

Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen hold South Africa's record with 157 against Pakistan.

Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy also produced a major third-wicket stand of 112 against Sri Lanka.

South Africa have had many technically strong top-order batters, but Hendricks and van der Dussen pushed the national record to a new level.

Highest 3rd Wicket Partnership for Afghanistan

Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli lead Afghanistan with 162 against West Indies in 2026.

The partnership is also fifth on the overall Men's T20I list.

Afghanistan's batting has developed significantly alongside its famous spin attack, and this record is one example of that growth.

Highest 3rd Wicket Partnership in T20 World Cup History

Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan's 152-run partnership against Sri Lanka in 2014 is one of the biggest third-wicket stands in Men's T20 World Cup history.

England had lost two wickets early in the chase.

Hales and Morgan then added 152 and transformed the match.

Hales remained unbeaten on 116 as England completed a memorable chase.

The partnership is still remembered as one of England's greatest batting performances at the tournament.

Highest 3rd Wicket Partnership vs Highest 2nd Wicket Partnership

The second-wicket and third-wicket records are very different.

The second-wicket record is 40 runs higher.

Third-wicket partnerships normally begin later in the innings because two batters have already been dismissed.

That gives the pair fewer deliveries to build a huge stand.

Highest 3rd Wicket Partnership vs Opening Partnership

The opening partnership record is even larger.

The number generally drops as the wicket number increases because later partnerships have fewer overs available.

This makes Malla and Paudel's 193 especially impressive.

What Is a Third-Wicket Partnership?

A third-wicket partnership begins after a team has lost two wickets.

The two batters then stay together until another wicket falls or the innings ends.

For example, if a team is 20/2 and the next wicket falls at 213/3, the partnership is 193 runs.

The partnership includes every run scored while those two batters are together, including extras.

Why Third-Wicket Partnerships Are Important

Losing two wickets early can place a T20 team under serious pressure.

The third-wicket pair often has two jobs.

First, they must stop the collapse.

Second, they cannot allow the scoring rate to fall too far because only 20 overs are available.

The best third-wicket partnerships manage both tasks.

They rebuild quickly and then attack once both batters are settled.

Why 193 Runs Is Such a Huge Third-Wicket Record

To break the current record, a pair would need to add at least 194 runs after two wickets have already fallen.

If those wickets fall after four overs, only 96 legal deliveries remain.

Scoring 194 from that position would require more than 12 runs per over for the rest of the innings.

The batters would also need to avoid dismissal while attacking constantly.

That combination makes the record extremely difficult to break.

Who Holds the Highest 3rd Wicket Partnership in T20I History?

The direct answer is Kushal Malla and Rohit Paudel of Nepal.

They added 193 runs for the third wicket against Mongolia in 2023.

Malla scored an unbeaten 137, while Paudel made 61.

Their partnership helped Nepal reach 314/3 and remains the highest third-wicket stand in Men's T20 International cricket through 2026.

FAQs

What is the highest third-wicket partnership in T20 International history?

Kushal Malla and Rohit Paudel hold the record with 193 runs for Nepal against Mongolia in 2023.

Who scored the most runs in the record partnership?

Kushal Malla scored 137 not out, while Rohit Paudel scored 61.

Who has the second-highest third-wicket partnership in T20Is?

Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips are second with 184 runs for New Zealand against West Indies.

What is England's highest third-wicket partnership?

Dawid Malan and Eoin Morgan added 182 against New Zealand in 2019.

What is India's highest third-wicket partnership in T20Is?

Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav added 137 against New Zealand in the 2025-26 season.

What is Pakistan's highest third-wicket partnership in T20Is?

Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman hold Pakistan's record with 140 runs against Ireland in 2024.

What is South Africa's highest third-wicket partnership?

Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen added 157 against Pakistan.

What is Afghanistan's highest third-wicket partnership?

Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli added 162 against West Indies in 2026.

What is the highest third-wicket partnership in the T20 World Cup?

Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan's 152 against Sri Lanka in 2014 is one of the leading Men's T20 World Cup third-wicket stands.

What is the difference between a second and third-wicket partnership?

A second-wicket partnership begins after the first wicket falls. A third-wicket partnership begins after the team has lost two wickets.

• ICC – Kushal Malla, Rohit Paudel and Nepal's Record-Breaking Innings Against Mongolia
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