Top Run Chases in T20 International Cricket
August 29, 2024
August 29, 2024
In T20 Internationals, scoring big runs has become quite common. Batters often start attacking right from the first ball, setting tough targets for the team chasing. However, chasing these high scores is usually daunting because of the immense pressure right from the start. Despite this, there have been instances where teams have successfully chased down these huge totals.
One such moment occurred in March 2023 at Supersport Park when South Africa faced West Indies in the second T20 Internationals of the series. The Proteas achieved the highest run chase in T20 Internationals.
Let’s explore the Sportiqo details of this thrilling and record-breaking match.
Here is the performance record for both innings:
| BATTERS | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon King | 1 | 2 | 50 | 0 | 0 |
| Kyle Mayers | 51 | 27 | 188.88 | 5 | 4 |
| Johnson Charles | 118 | 46 | 256.52 | 10 | 11 |
| Nicholas Pooran † | 2 | 3 | 66.66 | 0 | 0 |
| Rovman Powell (c) | 28 | 19 | 147.36 | 1 | 2 |
| Romario Shepherd | 41 | 18 | 227.77 | 1 | 4 |
| Odean Smith | 11 | 5 | 220 | 0 | 1 |
| Extras | 6 | ||||
| TOTAL | 258/5 | ||||
| BOWLERS | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Economy | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne Parnell | 4 | 0 | 43 | 10.75 | 2 |
| Aiden Markram | 2 | 0 | 22 | 11 | 0 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 4 | 0 | 39 | 9.75 | 0 |
| Marco Jansen | 4 | 0 | 52 | 13 | 3 |
| Sisanda Magala | 4 | 0 | 67 | 16.75 | 0 |
| Tabraiz Shamsi | 2 | 0 | 33 | 16.5 | 0 |
| BATTERS | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinton de Kock † | 100 | 44 | 227.27 | 9 | 8 |
| Reeza Hendricks | 68 | 28 | 242.85 | 11 | 2 |
| Rilee Rossouw | 16 | 4 | 400 | 1 | 2 |
| David Miller | 10 | 10 | 100 | 1 | 0 |
| Aiden Markram (c) | 38 | 21 | 180.95 | 4 | 1 |
| Heinrich Klaasen | 16 | 7 | 228.57 | 3 | 0 |
| Extras | 11 | ||||
| TOTAL | 259/4 | ||||
| BOWLERS | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akeal Hosein | 2 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 16.5 |
| Sheldon Cottrell | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 29 |
| Jason Holder | 4 | 0 | 48 | 1 | 12 |
| Romario Shepherd | 3.5 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 11.47 |
| Odean Smith | 2 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 18 |
| Raymon Reifer | 4 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 10.5 |
| Rovman Powell | 2 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 13.5 |
South Africa won the toss and chose to have the West Indies bat first. Here are the starting lineups for both teams:
South Africa’s Playing XI
Although Brandon King was out on the third ball of the first over, Johnson Charles quickly made up for it by hitting two boundaries off the last two balls from Parnell. Kyle Mayers also contributed with boundaries, helping the team score 17 runs in the third over.
Marco Jansen faced Charles in the fifth over, and Charles responded with aggressive batting, hitting two boundaries and two impressive sixes, totaling 20 runs in that over. By the end of the first powerplay, West Indies had scored 62/1.
Sisanda Magala struggled in his opening over, as Kyle Mayers scored 21 runs off him, including a massive 114-meter six over midwicket. Charles reached his fifty in just 23 balls by hitting Tabraiz Shamsi for a boundary over square leg. Shortly after, Mayers also reached his fifty in 24 balls.
Charles unleashed a barrage of powerful hits, including two big sixes off Shamsi and another six from Mayers, helping West Indies reach 137/1 in just 10 overs. However, Jansen slowed their progress by taking two crucial wickets in one over, dismissing Mayers and Pooran.
Despite this, Charles kept up the assault, hitting Kagiso Rabada for a six over square leg and a four off Magala. He celebrated reaching his century with a stylish drive over extra-cover. When Jansen returned to bowl, Charles hit him for two more sixes and a boundary. Jansen eventually got the better of him with a yorker.
Romario Shepherd took over from where Charles left off, starting with a boundary off a full toss. He then pummeled Magala for two sixes in the third over. Rabada was also hammered, as Shepherd and Rovman Powell scored 18 runs off his last over.
In the final over from Magala, Shepherd smashed two more sixes, one over mid-wicket and one over long-on. West Indies scored 79 runs in the last six overs, with Shepherd remaining unbeaten on 41 from 18 balls.
Quinton de Kock began South Africa innings in style, hitting consecutive fours off Akeal Hosein. He showcased his power by hitting three consecutive sixes off Sheldon Cottrell, totaling 29 runs in the over. De Kock was fortunate when he was dropped at 32 runs.
Reeza Hendricks also took control, hitting four boundaries off Jason Holder in an over. De Kock celebrated reaching his 50 with a six over backward square leg. He achieved this milestone in just 15 balls, setting a record for the fastest half-century by a South African in T20 Internationals. By the end of the first powerplay, the score was 102/0.
The pair continued their strong performance, hitting boundaries consistently. South Africa scored 149 runs in the first 10 overs, setting a record for the highest runs in the first 10 overs of any T20I match.
The 152-run partnership between de Kock and Reeza Hendricks is now South Africa’s fourth-highest ever. QDK reached his century in the 11th over, having faced 43 balls.
After de Kock was out, Hendricks took charge, hitting his first six off Odean Smith and reaching his half-century in just 22 balls. He was aggressive, scoring 16 runs off five consecutive deliveries.
Hendricks’ innings ended when he top-edged a slower bouncer and was caught behind. At this point, the Proteas needed 66 runs from 44 balls to achieve the highest run chase in T20 history.
After Hendricks’ dismissal, the West Indies fought back, limiting runs between the 14th and 16th overs, and David Miller was dismissed at the long-off boundary. Nonetheless, Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen came together to finish the innings.
Markram dominated Raymon Reifer’s fourth over, scoring 17 runs, including a powerful six over long-on. Meanwhile, Klaasen took control by hitting consecutive fours off Jason Holder. South Africa secured their win with 7 balls to spare.
See more: Best 5 Batting Performances in the 2023 World Cup
The match between South Africa and the West Indies at Supersport Park was a high-scoring affair. The West Indies set a challenging total of 258/5. Johnson Charles led their innings with a remarkable 118 off just 46 balls. Kyle Mayers also contributed with a rapid 51 runs, including four huge sixes. Jansen claimed 3 wickets, and Parnell took 2.
South Africa chased down the target in just 18.5 overs. Quinton de Kock played a spectacular innings, scoring 100 runs in 44 balls. Reeza Hendricks added a swift 68 off 28 balls, helping the team achieve the highest run chase in T20 Internationals.
The game featured 35 impressive sixes. De Kock was named Player of the Match for his outstanding century.
