Highest Run Chase in T20 Blast – Reliving Epic Victories
The T20 Blast is England’s premier domestic T20 competition featuring county teams since 2003. Over the years, the tournament has witnessed some sensational batting displays and monumental run chases. Let’s revisit the highest run chase in the history of T20 Blast and the brilliant knocks that made it possible.
Overview of T20 Blast
The T20 Blast is organised by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), with all 18 first-class counties participating.
Some key facts:
- Launched in 2003 as Twenty20 Cup before being renamed to T20 Blast in 2014.
- Teams are divided into North Group and South Group.
- Played during English summer from May to September every year.
- Popular among fans due to night matches and carnival atmosphere.
- Surrey (3), Hampshire (2) and Leicestershire (2) have won the most titles.
With leagues being played in small English grounds, T20 Blast has witnessed some huge run chases over the years.
Highest Successful Run Chases in T20 Blast
Here are the top 5 highest run chases in the history of the T20 Blast tournament:
1. 228/5 – Worcestershire vs Northamptonshire in 2018
This epic T20 chase unfolded during a group stage match at Northampton in 2018. The home team Northamptonshire batted first and posted 227/4 built on half-centuries by Vasconcelos, Keogh and Cobb.
In response, Worcestershire got off to a fiery start before Ross Whiteley played a sensational match-winning knock. His unbeaten innings of 97 runs from just 31 balls propelled Worcestershire to a 5 wicket win with an over to spare.
2. 226/4 – Kent vs Sussex in 2017
Chasing 227 at Canterbury, Kent were powered by their openers Daniel Bell-Drummond and Joe Denly who put together a 128-run stand in just 66 balls. Denly struck a 25-ball fifty while Bell-Drummond made 64-ball 82. Useful contributions from Billings (36 off 14) and Stevens (36* off 16) completed a famous 4 wicket win for Kent.
3. 222/3 – Nottinghamshire vs Durham in 2017
Durham posted 221/4 batting first at Chester-le-Street. Nottinghamshire started aggressively in response before Samit Patel and Dan Christian took charge with a match-winning stand. Patel blasted 76 off just 27 balls while Christian remained unbeaten on 64 off 28 balls to guide Nottinghamshire home with 3 wickets and 3 balls to spare.
4. 221/4 – Gloucestershire vs Surrey in 2007
This record T20 chase came in the 2007 semi-final at Gloucestershire. After Surrey made 220/5 batting first, Gloucestershire got off to a quick start before Ian Fisher (84* off 44 balls) and Jon Lewis (47 off 21 balls) led them to a thrilling 4 wicket triumph off the penultimate ball.
5. 220/3 – Lancashire vs Worcestershire in 2018
Worcestershire posted 219/3 in their 20 overs at Old Trafford after being asked to bat first. In reply, Lancashire’s openers Liam Livingstone and Alex Davies set the tone with a blazing 139-run opening stand in just 10.3 overs. Davies top scored with 76 off 39 balls while Livingstone made 66 off 32 balls as Lancashire sealed the chase with 7 balls remaining.
Notable Batting Performances in Highest T20 Blast Chases
The successful run chases over 220 in the T20 Blast were made possible by fantastic individual batting efforts:
- Ross Whiteley – 97* off 31 balls for Worcestershire vs Northamptonshire in 2018
- Daniel Bell-Drummond – 82 off 64 balls for Kent vs Sussex in 2017
- Ian Fisher – 84* off 44 balls for Gloucestershire vs Surrey in 2007
- Samit Patel – 76 off 27 balls for Nottinghamshire vs Durham in 2017
- Liam Livingstone – 66 off 32 balls for Lancashire vs Worcestershire in 2018
These knocks proved how small English grounds coupled with power hitting could result in mammoth chases.
Players With Most Runs in Winning Chases in T20 Blast
Here are the batsmen with the highest individual scores in successful run chases above 200 in T20 Blast:
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | For | Against | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ross Whiteley | 97* | 31 | 5 | 10 | Worcestershire | Northamptonshire | 2018 |
| Daniel Bell-Drummond | 82 | 64 | 6 | 3 | Kent | Sussex | 2017 |
| Ian Fisher | 84* | 44 | 9 | 4 | Gloucestershire | Surrey | 2007 |
| Samit Patel | 76 | 27 | 6 | 6 | Nottinghamshire | Durham | 2017 |
| Liam Livingstone | 66 | 32 | 6 | 3 | Lancashire | Worcestershire | 2018 |
Ross Whiteley’s whirlwind 97* off 31 balls is the highest individual score in a successful T20 Blast run chase.
Conclusion
The T20 Blast has seen some sensational batting over the years in high pressure chases. Knocks like Whiteley’s 97* or Bell-Drummond’s 82 demonstrate how small grounds coupled with power hitting has resulted in a few monumental chases beyond 220 runs.
While such massive targets are rarely defended in T20 cricket, these run chases exemplify the evolution of batsmen’s big hitting prowess. The T20 Blast is sure to witness a few more epic chases in coming years as batsmen continue to dominate bowling attacks ruthlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some queries on highest run chases in the T20 Blast:
Which team has the highest successful run chase in T20 Blast?
Worcestershire’s 228/5 against Northamptonshire in 2018 is the highest run chase in T20 Blast history.
Who has the highest individual score in a winning T20 Blast run chase?
Ross Whiteley’s 97* off 31 balls for Worcestershire against Northamptonshire in 2018 is the highest individual score.
How many 200+ run chases have there been in T20 Blast?
There have been 5 successful run chases above 200 runs in T20 Blast since 2003.
Which player hit the most sixes in T20 Blast’s highest chase?
Ross Whiteley hit 10 sixes during his unbeaten 97 off 31 balls against Northamptonshire in 2018.
When did a team first chase 200+ runs in T20 Blast?
Gloucestershire were the first team to chase over 200 runs in T20 Blast, against Surrey in the 2007 semi-final.
