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

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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