Punjab Kings made history in T20 cricket, clocking the highest successful chase in the format. The Kings scaled KKR’s 261/6 at Eden Gardens in Match 42 of the Indian Premier League 2024 season. An electrifying batting performance on a flat deck saw the Kings break South Africa’s record of the highest successful chase.
KKR rode on whirlwind half-centuries from Philip Salt (75) and Sunil Narine (71) to smash their second-highest IPL score. It was their best score against the Kings and also the top score at Eden Gardens. KKR were in full flow, adding 137 runs in 10 overs before managing another 124. Everyone thought the score was enough for a win. But PBKS had other ideas.
PBKS maintained a solid flow throughout the innings, riding on Jonny Bairstow’s 108* alongside fifties from Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh. Every KKR bowler barring Sunil Narine had a dismal outing.
Here, we present the highest successful chases in T20 cricket history.
PBKS 262-run target
Punjab scored their highest ever total in the powerplay (93/1) as Prabhsimran hit 54 from 20 balls. After 10 overs, they were 132/1 – their highest score at the 10-over mark. After 15 overs, PBKS were 202/2 before they sealed the match in 18.4 overs. PBKS scored 262/2. It was also PBKS’ highest ever score in the IPL.
Bairstow led the way with 108* from 48 balls (4s: 8, 6s: 9). Prabhsimran smashed four fours and five sixes, striking at 270. And then came Shashank Singh, who hit eight sixes and two fours in a 28-ball knock. In between, Rilee Rossouw hit 26 from 16 balls. PBKS smashed 24 sixes – the most in an IPL innings by a team.
The match also saw 42 sixes being hit which is now a new T20 record.
South Africa (259-run target)
In March 2023, West Indies scored a massive score of 258/5 in the 2nd T20I against South Africa, riding on Johnson Charles’ 118 from 46 balls. Romario Shepherd also shined with an 18-ball 41*. Marco Jansen claimed three wickets for SA. The Windies hit a total of 22 sixes.
And then a majestic show followed as the Proteas sealed the deal 18.5 overs, scoring 259/4. Quinton de Kock led the way with a 44-ball 100. Reeza Hendricks (68) and Aidan Markham (38*) played sensational cricket as well. South Africa hit only 13 sixes but the 29 fours worked largely in their favour. It remains the highest successful chase in Men’s T20I cricket.
Middlesex (253-run target)
In June 2023, Middlesex scaled Surrey’s 253-run target in the Vitality Blast at The Oval. Surrey did well to score a remarkable 252/7 in 20 overs. Will Jacks hit 96 from 45 balls. His opening partner Laurie Evans smoked 85 from 37 balls. They added 177 runs in 12.4 overs. Middlesex made a sound comeback and picked regular wickets to restrict Surrey under 260.
In this tall run-chase, Stephen Sean Eskinazi powered Middlesex with a brisk 39-ball 73. He smashed 13 fours and a six. Joe Cracknell hit a 16-ball 36 as the two added 90 runs in 6.3 overs. Max Holden’s 35-ball 68* alongside Ryan Higgins’ 24-ball 48 helped Middlesex surpass Surrey’s score. They did so in 19.2 overs. Notably, Middlesex managed only 8 sixes. However, the 33 fours worked well.
Australia (244-run target)
In 2018, the Australian cricket team stunned New Zealand, chasing down a 244-run target. The fifth match of the Tri-Series at Auckland saw the hosts smash a solid 243/6 in 20 overs. Martin Guptill led the way with a 105-run knock from 54 balls. He added 132 runs alongside fellow opener Colin Munro, who smashed a 33-ball 76. However, NZ’s impetus dropped as other batters didn’t quite manage to outwit Australia. A score of 243/6 was pretty decent.
In response, Australia got the job done in 18.5 overs. David Warner and D’Arcy Short added 121 runs in 8.3 overs. Warner managed 59 from 24 balls as Short scored 76 from 44. Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch then made crucial contributions to get the Aussies home. Australia scored 245/5 in 18.5 overs.
Bulgaria (243-run target)
In the 4th T20I between Bulgaria and Serbia in 2022, Leslie Dubar’s powerful knock of 117 from 50 balls helped Serbia smash a score of 242/4 in 20 overs. Openers Wintley Burton (40) and Alexander Dizija (58) made notable contributions upfront. Serbia smashed a total of 17 maximums with Leslie hitting 11 himself.
Bulgaria needed to start well in this mammoth chase. Saim Hussain’s 24-ball 71 and Kevin D’Souza’s 27-ball 66 helped Bulgaria manage 246/4 in 19.4 overs. Both Hussain and Kevin hit 7 sixes each. Serbia bowled 12 wides and three no balls.
Multan Sultans (243-run target)
The 2023 edition of the Pakistan Super League saw Multan Sultans get past Peshawar Zalmi in a run-fest. Batting first, Zalmi scored a powerful 242/6 in 20 overs. Babar Azam excelled with a 39-ball 73. His opening partner Saim Ayub hit 58 from 33 balls. Mohammad Haris (35) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (38) contributed to the cause.
The Sultans were off to a poor start (28/2) before Rilee Rossouw changed things around with a fiery 51-ball 121. He slammed 12 fours and 8 sixes. Kieron Pollard’s 52-run effort alongside Anwar Ali’s 8-ball 24* helped Sultans win the match. They scored 244/6 in 19.1 overs. A total of 32 sixes and 41 fours were witnessed in this match.