Five highest chases achieved in T20I cricket without losing a wicket
Chasing is often considered to be an easier task in the T20 format than defending totals and the same can be seen in T20Is. Very few teams have the depth in chasing down huge totals while few sides, despite being pretty good, miss out narrowly on most occasions. Many teams do have reliable opening batters who can chase down the target alone especially when they are in the range of 120-180. Here are the top five targets chased down in Men’s T20I cricket without losing a wicket:
126 – England vs West Indies, 2011:
West Indies toured England for a 2-match T20I series in 2011 with the first match at The Oval. Three of West Indies’ top four scored no less than 28 runs while batting first but a 4-wicket haul by Ravi Bopara bundled out the visitors to 125. In reply, England chased down the target in only 15.2 overs. The opening pair of Alex Hales and Craig Kieswetter scored 62 and 58 runs respectively to seal a 10-wicket win for the hosts.
130 – Oman vs Maldives, 2020:
Maldives faced Oman in 2020 during the ACC Western Region T20 tournament hosted by Oman. Some tight bowling by the home team saw Maldives getting restricted to only 129/7. Oman needed only 14.2 overs to chase the target down without losing a wicket. Khawar Ali smashed an unbeaten 45-ball 72 while Jatinder Singh made 48* off 41 balls.
130 – South Africa vs Pakistan, 2007:
Pakistan got a chance to play a T20I in South Africa about seven months before the inaugural edition of World T20 in the same country. Pakistan, who batted first in the game in Johannesburg, could only make 129/8. In reply, the South African skipper smashed an unbeaten 40-ball 71 while his partner Loots Bosman scored 53* off 32 balls to help the hosts chase down the target in only 11.3 overs.
140 – England vs New Zealand, 2013:
The 3-match T20I series in 2013 between New Zealand and England was levelled on 1-1 ahead of the final game in Wellington. New Zealand struggled in the big game as they finished with 139/8 despite Martin Guptill scoring 59 as an opener. In response, Alex Hales struck an unbeaten 42-ball 80 while Michael Lumb made 53* from 32 balls to see England cross the line with 12.4 overs only.
169 – New Zealand vs Pakistan, 2016:
After losing the first game of the 3-match T20I series, New Zealand faced Pakistan at the Seddon Park in Hamilton. Pakistan finished strongly on 168/7 as Umar Akmal smashed an unbeaten 27-ball 56. In reply, the New Zealand openers scored at an identical pace to see the team through to a 10-wicket win. Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson scored 87 and 72 runs respectively and finished with a strike rate of 150.
