T20 cricket has revolutionized the game of cricket. It has made it a batsman”s game. No score is considered safe these days as teams have chased down totals that seemed impossible 10-15 years ago.
Here is a look at top 5 epic run chases in T20 cricket :
– by Atharva Apte
- Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals at Mumbai on 25 May 2014
Mumbai Indians were in a do or die situation coming into this game. They needed not just a win but win handsomely. Rohit Sharma won all important toss and bowled first. Mumbai bowled badly and leaked runs as Rajasthan ended up getting 189. The equation for Mumbai was to get 190 runs in 14.3 overs to qualify for playoffs and needed a mammoth effort. They went all guns blazing right from the word go. Corey Anderson blasted his way to 95
They went all guns blazing right from the word go. Corey Anderson blasted his way to 95 off 44. Rayudu (30), Rohit (16), Hussey (22) all made valuable contributions and Aditya Tare hit a six off the last ball to seal the deal for MI. It was one of the greatest run chases in IPL ever. MI qualified for playoffs but eventually lost the eliminator to CSK.
Match Summary: RR 189/4 (Samson 74, Nair 50; Bumrah 1/30) lost to MI 195/5 (Anderson 95*, Rayudu 30; Cooper 2/38) by 5 wickets
2. Netherlands vs Ireland 21 March 2014 at Sylhet
It was the Qualifier of ICC WT20 2014 at Sylhet. Ireland had won their previous 2 games and Netherlands had won 1. If the Dutch would have managed to defeat
Irish with a better NRR, they were through to the league stage of the tournament. Batting first Ireland posted a mammoth 189/4. In response, Netherlands needed to chase down the target in 14 overs. They blasted their way through the powerplay with 91/1 which set up the run chase. Stephen Myburgh scored 63 off just 23 deliveries and Tom Cooper smashed a 15-ball 45. In the most sensational manner, Netherlands managed to pull off a historic run chase and were through to the group stage of ICC WT20.
Match Summary: Ireland 189/4 (Poynter 57, Porterfield 47; Ahsan Malik 2/26) lost to Netherlands 193/4 (Myburgh 63, Cooper 45*; K O”Brien 2/29) by 6 wickets.
3. South Africa vs West Indies 11 Jan 2015 at Johannesburg
Epic run chases and Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg ride together. The highest total chased in ODI, as well as T20Is, have come on this ground, the former by South Africa and later against them. This time around South Africa batted first and put up a massive 231-7 with skipper Faf du Plessis getting a hundred (119 off 56). Hunting down mammoth 232, WI lost Dwayne Smith for just 17 runs. Thereafter a 152-run stand between Gayle (90 off 41) and his fellow Jamaican Marlon Samuels (60 off 39) set the tone for this historic run chase. The finishing touches were given by Russell (14), DJ Bravo (10) and Sammy (20*) to complete the picture perfect run chase.
Match Summary: RSA 231/7 (du Plessis 119, Miller 47; DJ Bravo 2/32) lost to WI 236/6 (Gayle 90, Samuels 60; Wiese 3/43) by 4 wickets.
4. India vs Australia 31 January 2016 at Sydney
India had bagged the series 2-0 and was looking to whitewash Aussies in their own backyard in T20Is thereby becoming the first team to do so. On a quintessential flat Sydney pitch, Australia batted first and put up a competitive 197/5 with Watson smashing a 67-ball 124.198 might have been a daunting total to chase for other teams but not for team India.
Right from the start, India went about the run chase in a clinical manner. Dhawan got off to a flier (26 off 9) and Rohit (52 of 38) and Virat (50 off 36) anchored the run chase. When 17 were needed off last over, Raina and Yuvi finished things off in a style. India completed a whitewash after 4-1 loss in ODI series.
Match Summary: Australia 197/5 (Watson 124*, Head 26; Yuvraj 1/19) lost to India 200/3 (Rohit 52, Virat 50; Boyce 2/28) by 7 wickets.
5. Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades 12 Jan 2017 at Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
It was the sixth edition of BBL. Both the teams, Hurricanes, and Renegades were having a rough campaign. They faced off against each other at Docklands Stadium, Melbourne on 12 January 2017 and needed a win to enhance their chances of qualifying for a semi-final. The Renegades batted first and blew Hobart attack as they put up the highest total in BBL history. Finch (63), Tom Cooper (53*), White (34) and Perera (28*) were the wreckers-in-chief. Chasing 223, Hobart lost their openers Tim Paine and D”Arcy Short early. Thereafter 22-year old Ben McDermott tore apart Renegades bowling attack with a sensational 114 off 52 with 8 fours and 9 sixes. He was ably supported by Bailey with 59. The winning moment came on
Finch (63), Tom Cooper (53*), White (34) and Perera (28*) were the wreckers-in-chief. Chasing 223, Hobart lost their openers Tim Paine and D”Arcy Short early. Thereafter 22-year old Ben McDermott tore apart Renegades bowling attack with a sensational 114 off 52 with 8 fours and 9 sixes. He was ably supported by Bailey with 59. The winning moment came on the last ball when Stuart Broad chipped the ball over mid off.
Match Summary: Melbourne Renegades 222/4 (Finch 63, Cooper 53*; Reed 2/54) lost to Hobart Hurricanes 223/8 (McDermott 114, Bailey 59; Narine 3/27) by 2 wickets
– by Atharva Apte