Top 10 Highest successful run chases in T20 Internationals

T20I matches have increased the interest of the audience into the white ball cricket constantly since its inception in 2005. Many matches in the history of the T20 internationals have gone to the last ball, some even ended up in a tie and such contests have kept the interest of the audience at an all-time high. The most beloved aspect of the T20 game is to see a team chase down a formidable total set by their opponents. All totals big and small are difficult, but huge totals test the batsmen’s ability to score fast and score fast constantly. Here are the top 10 highest successful run chases in T20 international history: 10. Afghanistan – 191/5 vs Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, 2015 (Photo Source: Facebook) Afghanistan has become a brilliant team in the last 2-3 years. They qualified for their first ICC World Cup ever in 2015 and also won a match in the tournament against Scotland and almost gave Sri Lanka a heart attack in their group game. They ended their 2015 on a high with a T20 series win over Test-playing nation Zimbabwe and their best performance came in the second T20I. Zimbabwe batted first and scored 190/7, thanks to Sean Williams’ 54 and worthy contributions from Richmond Mutumbami and Captain Elton Chigumbura. The Afghan chase was anchored by Usman Ghani (65 off 45 balls) and Gulbadin Naib (56 off 31 balls). Naib hit the winning runs off Chris Mpofu on the penultimate ball of the last over to clinch an exciting match with 5 wickets in the hand and won the 2 match T20I series 2-0. 9. Netherlands – 193/4 vs Ireland, Sylhet, 2014 William Porterfield. (Photo Source: Associated Press) If you want to watch a match that has all the elements of a potboiler, you need to watch this match between Netherlands and Ireland. The match was a preliminary round qualification match for the ICC World T20 2014 main draw. Netherlands not only had to win the match, but they had to win it by a big margin to qualify, while Ireland would have qualified even if they lost. Ireland batted first and scored a mammoth 189/4, with Andrew Poynter (57), captain William Porterfield (47) and Kevin O’Brien (47* off 16 balls) being the main scorers for the Irish. Ireland had to make 190 runs in just 14.2 overs in order to qualify for the main draw. What came next, made this game perhaps the most exciting T20 International matches ever. The Netherlands came out guns blazing and just didn’t stop. They scored 96 runs in their first 6 overs, a record at that time. Opener Stephen Myburgh scored 63 off 23 balls with 7 sixes and Wesley Barresi scored 40 off 22 balls. But the man who completed the win for the Dutch was Tom Cooper, who launched an astonishing attack on Irish bowlers, scoring 45 off just 15 balls with 6 sixes. Netherlands made 193 in just 13.5 overs and won the match by 6 wickets. They qualified for the main draw, eliminated Ireland and scored an astonishing 163 runs in boundaries. 8. Australia – 197/7 vs Pakistan, Gros Islet, 2010 Australia v Pakistan, St. Lucia, 2010. (Photo Source: Getty Images) A World T20 2010 semifinal, between Australia and defending champions Pakistan. Pakistan batted first and scored 191 thanks to Kamran Akmal (50) and Umar Akmal (56*). Australia had a daunting task of scoring 192 to win and proceed to the finals to face arch rivals England. After a mild start and teetering on 105/5 at the 12 over mark, Cameron White was joined by Mike Hussy and Hussey single-handedly took Australia to the finals. When Australia required 18 runs off the last over, he demolished the best bowler in the tournament, off-spinner Saeed Ajmal by hitting him 3 sixes and a four in order to win the match by 3 wickets. Hussey scored 60* off 24 balls which included 6 sixes and 3 fours. But the match is remembered for the spirited chase that Australia achieved to get into the finals. 7. India – 200/3 vs Australia, Sydney, 2016 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 31: Yuvraj Singh of India celebtaes a wicket during the International Twenty20 match between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 31, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images) No team had chased a total of over 190 in Australia in any T20 Internationals. India came into the dead rubber T20I at Sydney Cricket Ground looking to win the series 3-0 and Australia came into the match to save some pride. Well, their stand-in captain Shane Watson made sure some pride was salvaged when he hit 124* off 71 balls with 6 sixes and 10 fours. This is the highest score by a captain in T20I and Watson became the only Australian to hit centuries all formats of international cricket. Australia made 197/5 in their 20 overs. India had to chase a record score on Aussie turf and Shikhar Dhawan (24 off 9) and Rohit Sharma (52) gave India the flying start they needed. Virat Kohli continued his love story in Australia, by scoring his 3rd consecutive 50 in the series. But the job was not done and at the crease were Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh. While Raina scored the runs freely, Yuvraj showed the signs of rust in his batting and had scored just 2 runs in 7 balls. India needed 17 runs off the last over and Yuvraj Singh hit the first ball for a four and followed it up with a magnificent six on the leg side to make sure India stays in the game. Raina ensured that India won the match and the series by hitting the last ball for a boundary, finishing on 49*off 25 balls. India became the first team to whitewash Australia in any format of international cricket in 140 years. Shane Watson got the Man of the match for his brilliant 124*. 6. South Africa – 200/3, vs India, Dharamsala, 2015 AB de Villiers. (Photo Source: BCCI) South Africa arrived in India looking to keep their brilliant record intact. The first format they played was the T20 one and the first match was played at Dharamshala. India batted first and thanks to a brilliant century by Rohit Sharma (106 with 12 fours and 5 sixes) and 43 off 27 from Virat Kohli, scored a massive 199 runs in their 20 overs. South African chase started with AB de Villiers scoring 51 off 32 balls and when it looked like India may win the match, JP Duminy (68 off 34 with 7 sixes) ensured that South Africa chased down the target easily. He was well supported by Farhan Behardien who scored 32 off 23. Barring R.Ashwin, every other Indian bowler went for runs with economy well over 10 runs per over. 5. India – 202/4 vs Australia, Rajkot, 2013 Yuvraj Singh. (Photo Source: AFP) India and Australia met in a one off T20I at Rajkot in the 2013-14 season. Australia batted first and scored 201/7. Aaron Finch was the highest scorer with 89 off 52 balls with 14 fours and valuable contributions from Nic Maddinson (34) and Glen Maxwell (27). India’s chase featured a returning Yuvraj Singh scoring a blistering 77* in just 35 balls with 8 fours and 5 sixes. He was supported by Shikhar Dhawan (32 off 19) and MS Dhoni (24 off 21). India overhauled the target in 19.4 overs. Yuvraj got the Man of the match for his match winning effort. 4. New Zealand – 202/5 vs Zimbabwe, Hamilton, 2012 James Franklin. (© LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images) Zimbabwe toured New Zealand in 2012 and this match was the 2nd T20I of the series. Zimbabwe batted first and scored 200/2 in their 20 overs. The chief run makers were Hamilton Masakadza (62 off 42 balls) and Captain Brendan Taylor (75* off 43 balls). The Kiwis got a brilliant start from their openers Rob Nichols (56 off 37 balls) and James Franklin (60 off 37 balls), who added 103 runs in 10 overs. After their departure, came the final assault from Brendon McCullum (38 off 24 balls) and Kane Williamson (20 off 5 balls). Kiwis reached the target with 2 balls to spare. James Franklin got the Man of the match for his 60 runs. 3. South Africa – 208/2 vs West Indies, Johannesburg, 2007 South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs. (Photo by ALEXANDER JOE/AFP/Getty Images) This match between South Africa and West Indies was a historical match. It was the very first match of the inaugural ICC World T20 in South Africa in 2007. West Indies batted first and the fans were treated to a record first ever T20 International century by Chris Gayle, who made 117 off 57 balls with another record 10 sixes. His opening partner Devon Smith scored 35 to keep him company and West Indies scored a then record 205/6. The chase was a daunting one and as they say, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going and that’s what Herschelle Gibbs and Justin Kemp did. Gibbs attacked the West Indian bowlers from the start and scored a match winning 90* off 55 balls. Kemp gave him great company and finished the match with his 46* off 22 balls. South Africa won with 8 wickets in hand and the very first World T20 started with a real bang and it revolutionized the game. 2. India – 211/4 vs Sri Lanka, Mohali, 2009 (Photo Source: AFP) Sri Lanka toured India in 2009 and this was the 2nd match of the T20I series, played at Mohali. Sri Lanka batted first and scored 206/7 with Kumar Sangakkara (59), Sanath Jayasuriya (31) and Angelo Mathews (26 off 13 balls) being the main contributors along with 38 from Chintaka Jayasinghe. Indians were left with the task of scoring 207 to win the match and the series. Virender Sehwag set the tone for the chase with 64 off 36 balls. MS Dhoni (46 off 28 balls) and Yuvraj Singh (60* off 25 balls with 5 sixes) made sure India didn’t lose any momentum and took India to a famous win with Yuvraj winning the match with a six. 1. West Indies – 236/6 vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2015 Dwayne Bravo. (© ANESH DEBIKY/AFP/Getty Images) Nobody would have thought that West Indies could have achieved this total batting second, but they had self-believe and a man called Chris Gayle. South Africa hammered West Indies in the ODI series and though West Indies won an exciting first T20 international, they still had to prove their worth in the second match. South Africa batted first and thanks to a century from captain Faf du Plessis (119* off 56 balls) and David Miller’s 46 off 26 balls, reached an astonishing 231/7 in their 20 overs. No one gave West Indies any chance as this total had not been chased in even franchise cricket then, but every Windies fan prayed that Chris Gayle should fire and he fired, he fired hard. Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels destroyed every bowler of South Africa, hitting them to every corner of the New Wanderer’s Stadium. Chris Gayle scored 90 off 41 balls with 7 sixes and Samuels scored 60 off 39 balls. They had a partnership of 152 runs between them. Though they had a scare in the middle order, Captain Darren Sammy made sure West Indies crossed the line with 20* off 7 balls. West Indies made a world record chase of 236/6 with 4 balls in hand and won the T20I series against South Africa. Chris Gayle got the player of the match award. All stats updated till 21st February 2016. Also read: Top 10 captains with highest individual scores in T20Is

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Top 10 Highest successful run chases in T20 Internationals

6. South Africa – 200/3, vs India, Dharamsala, 2015

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