Highest Run Chase in T20 Without Losing a Wicket - Remarkable Team Efforts

Chasing down targets successfully in T20 cricket itself is a challenging task. When a team accomplishes it without losing even a single wicket, it makes the achievement even more commendable. Let’s revisit some enthralling instances in T20 history where teams recorded the highest run chase without losing a wicket.

Overview of 10 Wicket Victories in T20 Cricket

In the fast-paced T20 format, 10 wicket wins are rare as chasing teams often lose a few wickets due to the risky nature of batting. 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 leagues, there have been fewer than 30 such wins out of over 1000 matches.
Highest chase without losing a wicket in T20Is is 151 by Ireland versus Netherlands in 2014.
In all T20 cricket, highest successfully chased without losing a wicket is 206 by Somerset versus Glamorgan in 2011.
Achieving such wins requires top class opening batsmen and an ordinary day for the bowling lineup. Let’s revisit some famous 10 wicket feats.

Highest Targets Chased Without Losing a Wicket in T20Is

Here are the leading 10 wicket victories in successful run chases in T20 international matches:

1. Ireland – 151/0 vs Netherlands in 2014

Chasing 151 in 15.1 overs at Belfast, Irish openers William Porterfield (85* off 51) and Paul Stirling (68* off 48) played brilliantly to steer Ireland to a massive 10 wicket win.

2. India – 118/0 vs Zimbabwe in 2016

Zimbabwe could only manage 117/5 in Harare after India opted to field. In response, Indian openers KL Rahul (50* off 36) and Mandeep Singh (59* off 42) achieved the target without loss in just 14.5 overs.

3. Pakistan – 113/0 vs Scotland in 2021

In a group match of 2021 T20 World Cup, Pakistan restricted Scotland to 109/8. Pakistan openers Babar Azam (66* off 47) and Mohammad Rizwan (53* off 42) smoothly chased it down in 15.1 overs to record a 10 wicket triumph.

4. Afghanistan – 104/0 vs Ireland in 2017

Batting first in Greater Noida, Ireland struggled against spin and were bowled out for 103 runs. Afghanistan openers Mohammad Shahzad (56* off 36) and Usman Ghani (47* off 33) successfully completed the chase without loss.

5. New Zealand – 101/0 vs Bangladesh in 2021

In this T20I at Napier, Bangladesh managed only 100/4 in 20 overs. New Zealand openers Martin Guptill (51* off 29) and Devon Conway (49* off 43) achieved the target comfortably in 13.5 overs without losing a wicket.

Highest T20 Targets Chased Without Losing a Wicket

Here are some memorable run chases without losing a wicket in T20 domestic/franchise cricket history:

Somerset – 206/0 vs Glamorgan in 2011 – Highest ever T20 chase without losing a wicket
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 2019
Quetta Gladiators – 157/0 vs Multan Sultans in 2019

These performances truly stand out as sides managed to score at 10 runs per over despite not losing any wickets.

Memorable Opening Stands in 10 Wicket Victories

Solid starts by the opening pair set the foundation for these emphatic 10 wicket triumphs while chasing targets successfully. Some noteworthy stands:

Porterfield and Stirling – 154 runs unbeaten stand for Ireland against Netherlands in 2014
Guptill and Conway – 105 runs unbeaten stand for New Zealand against Bangladesh in 2021
Rahul and Mandeep – 118 runs unbeaten stand for India against Zimbabwe in 2016
Azam and Rizwan – 113 runs unbeaten stand for Pakistan against Scotland in 2021
Lynn and Hales – 114 runs unbeaten stand for RCB against RR in IPL 2019

Such prolific opening partnerships allowed the chasing team to get ahead of the required rate quickly and cruise home without loss.

Individual Player Performances in 10 Wicket Victories

Though team efforts stood out overall, some batting masterclasses shaped successful 10 wicket chases:

Paul Stirling – Ireland – 148* off 71 balls against Oman in 2019
Martin Guptill – New Zealand – 73* off 36 balls against Bangladesh in 2021
Chris Lynn – RCB – 61* off 24 balls against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2019
Alex Hales – RCB – 62* off 32 balls against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2019

These quickfire knocks by opening batsmen set the tempo from ball one and shattered the opposition bowling attack ruthlessly.

Conclusion

Chasing down targets without losing a wicket requires top class opening batsmen and a rare off day for the bowling lineup. Over the years, teams like Ireland, India, New Zealand and Afghanistan have pulled off such incredible wins in T20Is thanks to their solid opening pairs.

Domestic T20 leagues have also witnessed a few colossal 10 wicket triumphs powered by explosive starts provided by the opening batsmen. Though rare, such thumping wins exemplify the massive highs chasing teams can achieve when everything falls into place perfectly.