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The Top 10 Successful Run-Chases In The T20 World Cup

Twenty20 cricket is where batsmen feast as they pile on the runs, but in any form of the sport, chasing has always been tough: These are the top 10 most successful run-chases in T20 World Cup history.

Kaylan Geekie
Kaylan Geekie

Last Updated: 2024-05-31

Ankitjit Singh

7 minutes read

Team England celebrates after winning the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016 match between South Africa and England at the Wankhede stadium

Image Credits: Pal Pillai/ICC via Getty Image

England recorded the highest successful run chase in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history. The two-time T20 world champions took South Africa apart at the 2016 showpiece event in India. England make the top 10 highest run chase list twice, although the West Indies have, on three occasions, entered this exclusive list, the most of any nation.

There has, however, been higher run chases in other Twenty20 domestic, franchise, and international cricket tournaments. One of the most thrilling events in T20 cricket is teams chasing down massive targets. These nail-biting finishes have become legendary. Successful run chases in T20 World Cups highlight a country’s mental toughness in high-pressure situations.

Top 10 Highest Run-Chases in T20 World Cup History

RankTeamScoreAgainst VenueYear
1England230/8South AfricaMumbai, India2016
2South Africa208/2West IndiesJohannesburg, South Africa2007
3Australia197/7PakistanSt. Lucia, West Indies2010
4West Indies196/3IndiaMumbai, India2016
5Netherlands193/4IrelandSylhet, Bangladesh2014
6England190/4Sri LankaChattogram, Bangladesh2014
7West Indies183/4EnglandMumbai, India2016
8Ireland180/4ScotlandHobart, Australia2022
9West Indies179/4AustraliaMirpur, Bangladesh2014
10Pakistan178/2BangladeshPallekele, Sri Lanka2012
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England and South Africa both chased down more than 200 runs against each other. England holds the record for the highest run chase in the T20 World Cup. In the 2007 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in South Africa, the West Indies set the hosts 205/4 in 20 overs, but the Proteas cruised to victory with 18 balls to spare as they scored 208/2 at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. 

Only two countries have successfully chased down totals of 200+ plus in T20 World Cup cricket history. Four teams have needed 190+ to win a World Cup match: Australia, West Indies, Netherlands, and England. The West Indies and Ireland have needed 180+ scores to win a T20 World Cup game.

SportsBoom has put together a comprehensive list of the top 10 highest run chases in T20 World Cup history, and the batsmen who have scored the most runs in chases T20 World Cup cricket.

Image Credit: T20 ICC

Image Credit: T20 ICC

England (230/8 vs South Africa, 2016)

England tops the list of highest run chases in ICC Men’s T20 World Cups. England chased down South Africa's total of 229 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in 2016. Player of the Match Joe Root was awarded Player of the Match for his match-winning 83 off 44 balls. Jason Roy (43 off 16) and Jos Buttler (21 off 14) helped England to victory in the final over, with two wickets remaining.

South Africa (208/2 vs West Indies, 2007)

During the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa, the hosts chased down the West Indies’ 205, with 18 balls remaining. Herschelle Gibbs scored an unbeaten 90 off 55 balls, supported by Justin Kemp’s important 22-ball 46. 

Australia (197/7 vs Pakistan, 2010)

Chasing 192 runs against a strong Pakistan bowling attack in the 2010 T20 World Cup semifinal, Australia lost early wickets, but Michael Hussey saved the day, scoring 60 off 24 balls. Hussey dispatched Saeed Ajmal in the final over, hitting 22 runs to seal a famous win.

West Indies (196/3 vs India, 2016)

The islanders chased down India’s 192 in the 2016 T20 World Cup semifinal to win a thrilling match and knock the hosts out of their own tournament. Lendl Simmons and Andre Russell did the damage. Simmons’ 82 off 51 balls and Russell’s 43 off 20 balls saw the West Indies comfortably reach the target.

Netherlands (193/4 vs Ireland, 2014)

Surprisingly, the Netherlands is fifth on the top 10 list of highest successful run chases in T20 World Cup history. Holland needed to chase down 190 runs in 14.2 overs to qualify for the Super 10 stage in Bangladesh in 2014. They completed the chase in 13.5 overs to cap a famous win. Stephan Myburgh scored 63 off 23 balls, Tom Cooper (40 off 22) and Wesley Barresi (45 off 15) to see the Dutch home, with three balls remaining.

Image Credit: T20 ICC

Image Credit: T20 ICC

England (190/4 vs Sri Lanka, 2014)

Another successful chase took place in the ICC 2014 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. Sri Lanka set England a target of 190 to win. Alex Hales starred with an unbeaten 116 (third-highest individual score in the T20 World Cup). Eoin Morgan played a captain’s knock, with 57 off 38 balls to guide England to victory in the final over.

West Indies (183/3 vs England, 2016)

Another West Indies power-hitting masterclass was on full display in the 2016 T20 World Cup. They chased down England’s competitive 183 target in the 19th over. Chris Gayle hit the fastest century in T20 World Cup history (100 off 47 balls). Gayle was ably supported Marlon Samuels and Andre Russell as the Windies knocked off the seventh-highest run chase of the T20 World Cup. 

Ireland (180/4 vs Scotland, 2022)

Scotland set Ireland an imposing 176/5 in Hobart, Australia, but a majestic all-round performance from Player of the Match Curtis Campher (72* off 32 balls & 2/9), saw the Irish chase down the Scots’ target. 

West Indies (179/4 vs Australia, 2014)

Australia set the West Indies a tough total in Mirpur, Bangladesh. However, Chris Gayle set the tone, with 53 off 35 balls. An unbroken 49-run fifth-wicket partnership between Daren Sammy and Dwayne Bravo, helped the Windies edge the win, with two balls remaining.

Pakistan (178/2 vs Bangladesh, 2014)

Pakistan is tenth on the list of highest run chases in T20 World Cup cricket history when they edged Bangladesh in Pallekele, Sri Lanka in 2012. 

Image Credits: Bahnfrend

Image Credits: Bahnfrend

Who are the top 10 finishers in T20 World Cup History?

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the king of the death overs in Indian Premier League history, but the top 10 finishers in T20 World Cup history are also greats of the shorter format, and it is no surprise to see their names on this elite batting list. Virat Kohli and David Warner are the batsmen who have accumulated 500+ runs in successful chases in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history. 

Kohli is the only batsman with seven or more fifty-plus scores when successfully chasing targets. Jos Buttler and Kohli are the only batsmen with 300+ runs and five or more not outs in successful T20 World Cup chases. Three England batsmen are on the list, the most of any nation. India and Australia have two players each, while the West Indies, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka have one player apiece in the top 10. 

Most Runs in Chases in T20 World Cup History

Player InningsRunsAverageStrike Rate
Virat Kohli (IND)9518518.00139.62
David Warner (Aus)1551139.30146.00
Rohit Sharma (IND)1033041.25124.06
Alex Hales (ENG)832854.66160.78
Jos Buttler (ENG)1132554.16147.05
Chris Gayle (WI)931639.50165.44
Shane Watson (AUS)727646.00158.62
Mohammed Rizwan (PAK)625851.60121.12
Jason Roy (ENG)521543.00167.96
Tillakaratne Dilshan (SL)621253.00141.33
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Jason Roy has the best strike rate with more than 200 runs in successful chases. He scored 215 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 167.96. Roy, however, has played the fewest innings out of the players on this list. England team-mate Alex Hales bludgeoned the highest individual score in a winning run chase. The English opening batsman scored 116 not out against Sri Lanka in 2014 in Bangladesh.

Chris Gayle – the self-styled ‘Universe Boss’ - was the first player to score a century while successfully chasing down a target. Gayle, who is an ambassador for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in West Indies and USA, also scored the fastest ton of the tournament, taking 47 balls to get three figures. 

For more features, guides, and the latest news in the world of cricket, stay connected to SportsBoom.com

FAQs

What is the highest run chase in the T20 World Cup?

England’s highest run chase in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history is 230/8 against South Africa in Mumbai, India, in 2016. 

What is India’s highest run chase in T20 World Cup history?

India's highest run chase in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is 176/4 against South Africa in the 2014 semifinal in Bangladesh. 

What is India’s highest run chase in T20 International cricket?

India's highest run chase in T20 International cricket is 211/4 against Sri Lanka in Mohali, 2009.

What is the highest run chase in T20 International cricket history?

The record for the highest run chase in T20 International cricket history is South Africa’s 259/4 against West Indies in Centurion, Pretoria. 

What is the highest T20 run chase in IPL history?

The Punjab Kings recorded the highest T20 run chase in Indian Premier League (IPL) history. The Kings chased down 262 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL in 2024.

Kaylan Geekie
Kaylan Geekie Sports Writer

Kaylan Geekie is a sports fanatic. He attended Durban High School before moving to Scotland, where he lived for 15 years. During his time in the United Kingdom, Kaylan graduated with a first-class BA Honours Degree in Sports Journalism at the University of the West of Scotland. Kaylan worked for nine years as the Match-Day Editor of SuperXV.com, reporting on Super Rugby, The Rugby Championship, the 2015 Men's Rugby World Cup and the 2017 British & Irish Lions series for the website.