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Cricket News: Highest successful run chases in T20Is without losing a wicket | What is the highest run chase in T20I without losing a wicket?
The conventional practice of opening batsmen providing a solid start to an innings has often gone missing in the T20 cricket era. Nowadays, openers are expected to either go big or go home. However, Pakistan’s peerless effort against England in Karachi on Thursday showed that there’s space for openers to build an innings and construct their innings consciously in this particular format as well.
Highest run chases in T20Is without the loss of a wicket
In that backdrop, Cricblog takes a look at the five highest run-chases by teams in T20Is without losing a wicket.
1. Pakistan vs England: 203/0, Karachi, 2022
Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam rounded up a flawless run chase against England at the National Stadium in Karachi in September 2022. Chasing 200, the Pakistani openers took apart the English bowling line-up. Together, they struck 16 fours and 11 sixes and particularly mercilessly decimated Luke Wood during the course of the innings.
The Pakistani middle-order has come under scanner in recent times. In that context, it was all the more important for Babar and Rizwan to assume greater responsibility in the run-up to the T20 World Cup. The duo did that sublimely and has set the stage well for the side to do one up from the semi-final finish in the previous edition of the tournament.
2. New Zealand vs Pakistan: 171/0, Hamilton, 2016
In early 2016, the Kiwi opening pair of Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill chased down 169 with utmost ease against a fairly strong Pakistani bowling unit. The two of them went all guns blazing together and managed to cross over the finishing line in the 18th over itself.
Williamson and Guptill were equally incredible against the pacers as well as the spinners. Mohammed Amir’s left-arm pace was provided no respite by the aforementioned duo as they made light work of what appeared to be a tricky chase against a crafty bowling attack.
3. England vs India, 170/0, Adelaide, 2022
What a takedown from two elite T20 players. Jos Buttler and Alex Hales made a mockery of India’s 168/6 in the 2022 World Cup semi-final, reaching the target with 24 balls and ten wickets to spare.
At the halfway mark, India would have thought they were a chance with 168 on the board thanks to Hardik Pandya’s 33-ball 63. However, all hope was snuffed out by the end of the powerplay, where England raced to 63/0. From there, the dynamic opening duo simply cruised, taking down India’s bowlers who simply had no answers.
4. India vs Pakistan, 152/0, Dubai, 2021
Babar and Rizwan aren’t really new to mastering T20I chases. Last year, they spearheaded Pakistan’s first victory against India in a World Cup tie in the Dubai International Stadium. India had put up an under-par 151 runs in the first innings but the Pakistani openers rendered the Indian bowlers toothless.
They were both cautious yet proactive in their approach and never let the Indian bowlers slip in some tight overs in between. Mohammed Shami had a poor day at the office but none of his other teammates offered enough bite that could trouble the arch-rivals in such a crucial encounter.
5. England vs New Zealand, 143/0, Wellington, 2013
The English T20I side wasn’t really known for its T20I credentials before Eoin Morgan brought about a revolution on that front from 2015 onwards. However, Michael Lumb and Alex Hales had provided a slight glimmer of hope for what rested ahead for their limited-overs fortunes way back in 2013 itself.
Hales had triggered an absolute onslaught as he notched 80 runs off 42 deliveries, which included nine fours and four sixes. Lumb in fact hit five sixes and only a single boundary and England managed to chase down a modest target of 140 in merely 12.4 overs!
