Top 5 highest successful run chases in T20 World Cup history

The T20 format has been revolutionized in such a way that high-scoring matches seem pretty standard these days. Even the new teams just making their debut on a global platform aim to score 190+ runs in every game and make the contest enjoyable. Now, most of the credit goes to the pitch and the curators behind it, but the real credit goes to the team and the batters who put an effort into scoring more and hitting the ball out of the park. 

While the run chases these days look easier than before, in the last eight editions of the ICC T20 World Cup, there were various instances where the matches had a nail-biting finish due to high scores. From 2007 to 2024, run chases have been fun to watch, considering the amount of rivalry and passion involved towards the match's end. 

Let's discuss the highest run chase in T20 WC in the nine editions of the tournament: 

5. 192 AUS vs PAK, Gros Islet, 2010 

The 2010 2nd semi-final saw a high-scoring game between Australia and Pakistan, where the men in green went on to score 191 runs in the first innings. With terrific batting, Pakistan's batting line-up was on fire that day. Opener Kamran Akmal (50), Salman Butt (32) and Umar Akmal (56)'s batting helped the team reach the target. However, when it comes to World Cups, Australian batters come in a different form. Hence, with the help of Michael Hussey's 60 runs off 24 balls and other batters' collective efforts, Australia won the match with three wickets to spare. 

4. 193 WI vs Ind, Wankhede, 2016

For Indian fans, the 2016 World Cup was quite traumatizing. Virat Kohli's brilliant effort of 89 runs off 47 balls went in vain, and India was knocked out of the tournament in their own backyard even after scoring 191 runs in the first innings. West Indies batters were in red-hot form as they chased down the score with seven wickets to spare. It was Johnson Charles (52), Lendl Simmons (82), and Andre Russell (43)'s collective efforts that took the Caribbean team past the victory line. It was one of the greatest run chases in the game's history. 

3. 195 USA vs Canada, Dallas, 2024

USA's mind-blowing performance in the T20 World Cup 2024 has surprised the entire world as they chased a target of 195 runs in 17.4 overs with seven wickets to spare. Navneet Dhaliwal's (61) and Nicholas Kirton's (51) heroics took the team's performance to 194 runs. However, Aaron Jones' unbeaten 94 runs off 40 balls and Andries Gous' 65 runs off 46 balls took the newcomers past the victory line. It was nothing less than a dream run chase for the debutants, who look forward to breaking some more records in the upcoming matches.  

2. 206 SA vs WI, Joburg, 2007

The T20 World Cup's start was a dream as the tournament's first match was a high-scoring match where the mighty West Indies scored 205 runs in the first innings. The Universal Boss, Chris Gayle, scored an unbeaten 117 runs off 57 balls, which took the team's total above 200. However, Heshell Gibbs' 90 runs and Justin Kemp's 46 runs overpowered the century as the Proteas successfully chased down the target at 17.4 overs with eight wickets to spare. It was a thrilling match that kept the audience hooked to their seats and also raised the expectations from the tournament. 

1. 230 Eng vs SA, Wankhede, 2016

T20 World Cups belong to England, and they have proved it several times. Hashim Amla (58), Quinton de Kock (52), and JP Duminy (54)'s fearless batting took South Africa's score to 229 runs. However, a brilliant start from Jason Roy (43) and a middle-order cracker by Joe Root (83 runs off 44 balls) became the reason behind England's highest run chase of 230 runs. This is one of the records which still remains unbroken in the T20 World Cup and is successfully owned by the English team.