Top 5 successful run chases in T20Is without losing a wicket
Ever since its inception, T20 has been the most entertaining and demanding format in cricket with the new 20-overs format catching the eye of all the cricketing fans around the world. Though the first-ever T20 match was played in England County cricket in June 2003, internationally it began in Feb 2005 when New Zealand locked horns with Trans-Tasman rivals Australia in Auckland. In T20Is, chasing a target could be a difficult task because of scoreboard pressure but today we shall look at Top 5 run chases where teams ran away to the target with ease without losing a single wicket.
5. England vs West Indies (The Oval, 2011)
The team from the Caribbean toured England for a short two-match T20I series as the first match took place on September 23, 2011, at Kennington Oval in London. For the hosts, spinner Graeme Swann was the captain of the match as he won the toss and opted to field first. West Indies openers Johnson Charles and Dwayne Smith both got starts as they made 36 and 33 respectively. Ravi Bopara took four wickets for just 10 runs as the men in maroon were bowled out for 125. Chasing a modest target, Alex Hales and Craig Kieswetter both struck the fifties as the English side chased down the score in 15.2 overs to win by 10 wickets.
4. South Africa vs Pakistan (Johannesburg, 2007)
The only T20I of Pakistan’s tour of South Africa in 2007 was played on February 2, 2007, at the Wanderers. For the visitors, nobody could really get going with Mohammad Hafeez being the top scorer for his 25 runs as Alfonso Thomas snared three wickets to restrict Pakistan for just 129/8. In reply, captain Smith led from the front scoring 71* along with Loots Bosman who also smashed fifty as the Proteas chased down the target in just 11.3 overs to thrash Pakistan by 10 wickets.
3. New Zealand vs England (Wellington, 2013)
The decider T20I of the series was played on February 15, 2013 in Wellington. Skipper Stuart Broad won the toss and elected to field first as he along with Jade Dernbach took three wickets each to restrict the Kiwis for 139/8. Martin Guptill scored a half-century while captain Brendon McCullum couldn’t convert his start and fell for 26. Chasing 140, both Michael Lumb and Alex Hales smashed the fifties as the latter scored a brilliant 80* off just 42 deliveries to win the match for his side by 10 wickets.
2. Pakistan vs India (Dubai, T20 World Cup 2021)
The most viewed T20I match in history took place on October 24, 2021, in Dubai between arch-rivals Pakistan and India in the T20 WC. Shaheen Afridi broke the back of Indian batting by accounting scalps of openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. Kohli top-scored for his side with 57 runs as India managed only 151/7. Chasing the target, captain Babar and Mohammad Rizwan continued their prolific 2021 as they took the game away from their rivals by mustering 68 and 79 runs respectively to hand India a drubbing by 10 wickets.
1. New Zealand vs Pakistan (Hamilton, 2016)
The 2nd T20I of the series was played on January 17, 2016, at Seddon Park in Hamilton with the hosts already 1-0 down in the series. Pakistan scored an impressive 168/7 in their 20 overs with Umar Akmal scoring a half-century. In reply, openers Martin Guptill and captain Kane Williamson made a mockery of the target as the duo notched up 87 and 72 runs respectively to end the game in 17.4 overs and squared the series 1-1.
