Highest Successful Run Chases in PSL history - Multan Sultans Achieve the Record Target

Pakistan Super League (PSL) has witnessed some high-scoring run chases especially in the last couple of seasons when the tournament moved to Pakistan instead of being held in the UAE. The flat batting-friendly pitches have produced high-scoring games. In the 2023 season, Multan Sultans created history by achieving the highest target in PSL after they chased 241 runs against Peshawar Zalmi at Rawalpindi.

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Here we have a look at the highest target in PSL and the top 10 highest run chase in PSL.

1. Multan Sultans – 244, 2023

Multan Sultans have the record of achieving the highest run chase in PSL as they hit 244 for 6 against Peshawar Zalmi in the 2023 edition. Zalmi captain Babar Azam and Saim Ayub scored 73 and 58 respectively and helped put 242 for 6 on the board, the highest target in PSL. Chasing the highest total in PSL history, Sultans lost their openers early but Rilee Rossouw’s 121 in 51 balls and his 99-run partnership with Kieron Pollard (52 off 25) for the 3rd wicket helped seal the chase with 5 balls and 4 wickets in hand. Anwar Ali (24* off 8) and Usama Mir (11* off 3) were at the crease when a mini collapse occurred at the fag end of the chase and saw Sultans off to win.

2. Quetta Gladiators – 243, 2023

Quetta Gladiators scored 243 for 2 while chasing against Peshawar Zalmi in the 2023 season, the second-highest run chase in PSL. Zalmi’s skipper Babar Azam scored 115 in 65 balls with his opening partner Saim Ayub hitting 74 in 34 balls to score 240 for 2 in the first innings. Chasing the second-highest total in PSL history,  Multan Sultans’ English opener Jason Roy hit the highest individual score in PSL finishing the innings with 145 not out in 63 balls hitting 20 fours and 5 sixes taking Gladiators to an 8-wicket victory. Mohammad Hafeez at number 4 added 41 unbeaten in just 18 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes to help Roy bat at his own pace. Sultans achieved the total with 10 balls to spare.

3. Multan Sultans – 209, 2022

Multan Sultans achieved the highest target in PSL during the 2022 edition, a record they overhauled in the next edition. Lahore Qalandars were powered to 206 for 5 on the back of 76 from Fakhar Zaman and 43 from Kamran Ghulam. For the Sultans, opener Shan Masood scored 83 in 50 balls along with his opening partner and skipper Mohammad Rizwan who hit 69 in 42 deliveries. The openers added 150 for the 1st wicket in 14.2 overs doing the bulk of the work in the chase. Khushdil Shah hit 3 fours and a six in the final over sealing the chase with 2 balls and 5 wickets to spare.

4. Islamabad United – 209, 2023

Islamabad United chased the huge score of 206 in a thrilling encounter during PSL 8 against Multan Sultans at Rawalpindi. The Sultans scored 205/5 in their 20 overs with opener Shan Masood scoring 75 in 50 and Tim David hitting 60 in 27 balls. Islamabad lost both their openers in the powerplay but Colin Munro and skipper Shadab Khan added 59 for the 3rd wicket. Munro scored 40 in 21, Shadab 44 in 25 but it was Faheem Ashraf’s unbeaten 51 in 26 balls that took the game down the wire. With 18 required off the final over, Faheem did short work of fast bowler Mohammad Illyas finishing the game on the penultimate ball of the match with 2 wickets in hand.

5. Quetta Gladiators – 207, 2022

Another Jason Roy masterclass during the 2022 PSL season as he guided his side to a 7-wicket win in a high-scoring encounter versus Lahore Qalandars. Batting first, Qalandars romped up to 204/5 with Fakhar Zaman top scoring with 70 in 45 balls and Harry Brook finishing unbeaten with 41 in 17 balls. Jason Roy while opening the innings made his attacking intentions clear as he hit 11 fours and 8 sixes in a brutal knock of 116 in 57 balls. He added 71 runs with Ahsan Ali and then 96 with James Vince for the 2nd wicket. Vince hit 49 in 38 balls and remained unbeaten with Mohammad Nawaz (25* off 12). Gladiators won by 7 wickets and 3 balls to spare.

6. Islamabad United – 204, 2023

Another high-scoring encounter of PSL 8 with Islamabad United defeating Karachi Kings by 6 wickets in the final over. Kings scored 201/5. Captain Imad Wasim scored 92 not out in 54 balls. Islamabad United were down at 69/3 while chasing the big score but Faheem Ashraf (41 in 32) added 125 runs with Azam Khan. Khan scored 72 in 41 balls with 8 fours and 4 sixes sealing the chase with 4 balls to spare. With 8 runs needed off 6 balls, Asif Ali hit a maximum and then a boundary to take United to another famous win.

7. Lahore Qalandars – 204, 2019

A thrilling encounter at the historic Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the 2019 edition of PSL. Multan Sultans batted first and scored 200 for 6 in their 20 overs with openers James Vince (84) and Umar Siddiq (53) shining with half-centuries. For Qalandars, opener Fakhar Zaman played a fluent knock of 63 in 35 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes without much contributions from the top order. AB de Villiers scored an aggressive unbeaten 52 in 29 balls but it was David Wiese batting at number 7 who hit 5 sixes in his unbeaten 45 off just 20 balls who took the side to a win. Qalandars needed 3 runs off the final ball delivered by Dan Christian. Wiese hit a maximum to take his side to a 6-wicket win. This was the highest target in PSL during the 2019 edition.

8. Quetta Gladiators – 203, 2022

At the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore during the 2022 PSL season, Quetta Gladiators chased 200 against Islamabad United. Islamabad were powered by half-centuries from Alex Hales (62 off 38) and Faheem Ashraf (55 off 28) to the big total of 199/8. Opening the innings, Jason Roy continued his great form and scored 54 in 27 balls with 10 fours and a six adding 88 runs for the first wicket with Ahsan Ali (30). With Ahsan and James Vince (29 off 22) departed, captain Sarfaraz Ahmed took over scoring an unbeaten 50 in 32 balls to guide the team to victory. Vince and Iftikhar Ahmed were dismissed in quick succession but Umar Akmal making a comeback after 3 years scored 23 in 8 balls with 3 sixes before getting dismissed. Gladiators won by 5 wickets and 2 balls to spare.

9. Quetta Gladiators – 203, 2016

Another close encounter involving Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League. Played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Gladiators won the toss and elected to bowl. The Qalandars top 3 comprising of Chris Gayle (60), Azhar Ali (61) and Umar Akmal (55*) all scored half centuries to put a mammoth 201/2 on board. Gladiators started off well with Bismillah Khan opening the innings and scoring 55 in 30 balls. Kevin Pietersen and Kumar Sangakkara scored 34 and 37 respectively to guide the team but the middle order collapsed. The Afghanistan allrounder Mohammad Nabi emerged in the back end of the innings scoring an unbeaten 30 off 12 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes. With 3 runs required off the final ball, he kept his nerve and hit a boundary against Zohaib Khan winning the game for Quetta by 2 wickets.