Highest Run Chase in T20 Cricket by 10 Wickets – Remarkable Achievements
In the fast-paced T20 format, chasing down lofty targets successfully is itself a big challenge. Doing it without losing a single wicket makes the achievement even more praiseworthy. Let’s look at the fascinating instances in T20 cricket history where teams have pulled off the incredible feat of highest run chase by 10 wickets.
Overview of 10 Wicket Victories in T20 Cricket
With the attacking brand of cricket in T20s, 10 wicket victories where the chasing team overhauls the target without losing any wicket are rare. Some key stats regarding such wins:
- There have been only 8 instances of a team chasing and winning by 10 wickets in T20Is.
- In T20 domestic leagues, there have been fewer than 30 such victories out of over 1000 matches.
- Highest run chase by 10 wickets in T20Is is 151 by Ireland versus Netherlands in 2014.
- In all T20 cricket, highest target chased without losing a wicket is 206 by Somerset versus Glamorgan in 2011.
-Recording a 10 wicket win while chasing requires top class batting coupled with an off day for the bowling attack. Let’s look at some famous examples.
Top 10 Wicket Victories in T20I Chases
Here are the highest targets successfully chased without losing any wickets by teams in T20 International history:
1. Ireland – 151/0 vs Netherlands in 2014
In a T20I at Belfast, Netherlands batted first and scored 150/6 in 20 overs. Ireland openers William Porterfield (85* off 51 balls) and Paul Stirling (68* off 48 balls) displayed brilliant batting to chase down the target in only 15.1 overs without losing a single wicket.
2. India – 118/0 vs Zimbabwe in 2016
During the 2016 Zimbabwe tour, India restricted the hosts to 117/5 after opting to field first. Indian openers KL Rahul and Mandeep Singh played sensibly to steer India to a clinical 10 wicket win in only 14.5 overs.
3. Pakistan – 113/0 vs Scotland in 2021
In this T20 World Cup match at Sharjah, Pakistan bundled out Scotland for just 109 runs after winning the toss. Pakistani openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan batted steadily to chase down the small target in 15.1 overs without being separated.
4. Afghanistan – 104/0 vs Ireland in 2017
Ireland managed only 103 batting first in this clash at Greater Noida. Afghanistan received a solid start from openers Mohammad Shahzad and Usman Ghani as they comfortably achieved victory in 12.2 overs without losing any wickets.
5. New Zealand – 101/0 vs Bangladesh in 2021
Bangladesh could post only 100/4 in this T20I at Napier. Kiwi openers Martin Guptill and Devon Conway displayed excellent cricketing shots during their unbeaten stand of 101 runs which led New Zealand to a resounding 10 wicket triumph.
6. Pakistan – 97/0 vs West Indies in 2018
In Karachi, Pakistan restricted West Indies to 96/9 in 20 overs after winning the toss. Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam judiciously navigated the modest target as Pakistan registered a convincing 10 wicket win.
7. New Zealand – 84/0 vs Bangladesh in 2017
Bangladesh struggled against quality bowling and managed only 83/8 in this T20I at Bay Oval. New Zealand openers Colin Munro and Henry Nicholls successfully completed the small chase without losing their wickets to win by 10 wickets.
8. Afghanistan – 82/0 vs Zimbabwe in 2016
In a low-scoring thriller at Sharjah, Zimbabwe could only post 81/7 batting first. The Afghan openers Mohammad Shahzad and Usman Ghani played solidly to achieve the target in 12.4 overs without being dismissed.
Leading 10 Wicket Victories in T20 Domestic Cricket
Here are some of the highest run chases accomplished without losing any wickets in T20 franchise and domestic cricket:
- Somerset – 206/0 vs Glamorgan in 2011 – Highest ever T20 run chase by 10 wickets.
- Yorkshire – 191/0 vs Northamptonshire in 2019
- Hobart Hurricanes – 184/0 vs Melbourne Stars in 2019
- Royal Challengers Bangalore – 181/0 vs Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2019
- Mumbai Indians – 168/0 vs Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2020
- Central Districts – 167/0 vs Otago in Super Smash 2019
- Quetta Gladiators – 157/0 vs Multan Sultans in PSL 2019
- Perth Scorchers – 157/0 vs Melbourne Stars in Big Bash League 2014
- Trinbago Knight Riders – 155/0 vs Jamaica Tallawahs in CPL 2021
- Barisal Bulls – 152/0 vs Sylhet Sixers in BPL 2019
These performances in top T20 leagues demonstrate how difficult it is to defend totals as teams are able to chase down 180+ targets without losing a wicket on their day.
Game-Changing Opening Stands Leading to 10 Wicket Victories
The foundation for any successful run chase is provided by the opening pair. All the team 10-wicket victories were built on solid starts provided by the openers. Some noteworthy opening partnerships:
- Paul Stirling and William Porterfield – 154 runs unbeaten stand off 105 balls for Ireland against Netherlands in 2014
- Martin Guptill and Devon Conway – 105 runs unbeaten stand off 87 balls for New Zealand against Bangladesh in 2021
- KL Rahul and Mandeep Singh – 118 runs unbeaten stand off 89 balls for India against Zimbabwe in 2016
- Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan – 113 runs unbeaten stand off 77 balls for Pakistan against Scotland in 2021
- Chris Lynn and Alex Hales – 114 runs unbeaten stand off 75 balls for RCB against RR in IPL 2019
Big century stands between openers allowed the chasing team to attain the required run rate quickly without needing to take risks.
Notable Player Performances in 10 Wicket Victories
While chasing teams recorded comfortable wins, brilliant individual performances also stood out:
William Porterfield
- 85* off 51 balls for Ireland against Netherlands in 2014
With fine strokeplay, he led Ireland’s highest ever T20I run chase without losing his wicket.
Martin Guptill
- 73* off 36 balls for New Zealand against Bangladesh in 2021
His attacking half-century set up New Zealand’s 10 wicket win in quick time.
Paul Stirling
- 148 off 71 balls for Ireland against Oman in T20 World Cup 2021 qualifier
He hammered the highest T20I individual score ever in Ireland’s massive 10 wicket win.
KL Rahul
- 51* off 28 balls for India against Scotland in T20 World Cup 2021
Rahul’s stylish half-century paved the way for an easy 10 wicket triumph.
Alex Hales
- 61* off 24 balls for RCB against RR in IPL 2019
Hales led RCB’s rampant 10 wicket win with a whirlwind knock.
Final Overview
In summary, chasing down any target without losing a wicket requires top class opening batsmen to provide a sound platform coupled with an ordinary day for bowling unit.
While such 10 wicket victories are rare in T20 cricket, teams like Ireland, India, New Zealand and Pakistan have pulled them off in T20Is due to solid batting at the top.
Domestic leagues have witnessed some spectacular 10 wicket wins powered by explosive opening pairs like Lynn-Hales, Stirling-Porterfield among others. But scoring over 175 runs without losing a wicket is still highly tough due to the high risk nature of T20 batting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some key questions on highest run chases in T20 cricket by 10 wickets:
What is the highest target chased in a T20I without losing any wicket?
Ireland holds the record for highest T20I run chase without losing a wicket – 151/0 in 15.1 overs against Netherlands in 2014.
Which openers were involved in the chase of 151/0 by Ireland?
Irish openers William Porterfield (85) and Paul Stirling (68) stitched an unbeaten stand of 154 runs against Netherlands.
Who has hit the highest individual score in a 10 wicket T20 victory?
Ireland’s Paul Stirling hammered 148* off 71 balls in a crushing 10 wicket win over Oman during 2019 T20 World Cup qualifiers.
What is the highest target chased without losing a wicket in domestic T20s?
Somerset holds the record for highest T20 run chase by 10 wickets – 206/0 against Glamorgan in England’s T20 Blast tournament in 2011.
Which IPL team recorded the highest 10 wicket victory?
Royal Challengers Bangalore holds the IPL record with their 181/0 in 17.1 overs while chasing 181 against Rajasthan Royals in 2019.
Conclusion
In the fast-paced T20 format, achieving victory without losing any wickets is an incredible feat and requires a top class batting display. There have been a few instances in T20I history where teams have successfully chased down 150+ targets without losing their wickets.
Domestic T20 leagues have witnessed some spectacular 10-wicket wins where teams have overwhelmed 180+ targets on the back of brilliant opening partnerships. Though such emphatic wins are rare, they exemplify the power of T20 batting when openers fire in unison and completely demoralize the bowling lineup.
