Highest run chase in T20 cricket: Punjab Kings hold record vs Kolkata Knight Riders

Piling massive totals in Twenty20 or T20 cricket has become a norm these days, with batters going berserk from the first ball and setting huge targets for teams batting second.

However, chasing those lofty totals isn’t something teams usually look forward to since the pressure is high from the start. But there have been instances when teams have been successful in chasing down massive totals.

The record for the highest run chase in T20 cricket belongs to Indian Premier League side Punjab Kings, who successfully hunted down Kolkata Knight Riders' first innings total of 261/6 at the Eden Gardens in IPL 2024.

Highest run chase in IPL

PBKS' 262/2 in just 18.4 overs riding on Jonny Bairstow's incredible 48-ball 108 is also the highest successful run chase in the IPL as well as the highest second innings total in a T20 match. Royal Challengers Bengaluru also scored 262/7 in 20 overs in the same season of the IPL, albeit in a losing cause against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Highest run chase in T20I cricket

The South Africa men’s cricket team, meanwhile, holds the record for the highest run chase in T20I cricket.

In 2023 at SuperSport Park in South Africa, the West Indies piled on 258/5 while batting first against South Africa, headlined by Johnson Charles's 118 off 46 balls.

South Africa put up a stellar batting display to chase down the target in just 18.5 overs, reaching 259/4. Quinton de Kock hammered 100 runs in 44 balls, his maiden T20I century, while fellow opener Reeza Hendricks slammed 68 off 28 to help their side reach the big total. The duo put on 152 runs for the opening wicket in just 10.5 overs, scoring at a whopping 14 an over.

"It was quite special," de Kock said about their partnership. "When I got out [Hendricks] said, 'We just did something really special and we should be proud of what we've done.' We just wanted to give our side a bit of hope and that's what we did."

Incidentally, the South African cricket team also holds the highest run chase in One Day International (ODI) cricket.

Highest run chase in T20

Meanwhile, India’s highest run chase in T20 cricket was achieved against Sri Lanka in 2009.

With the visitors posting 206/7, India wasted no time to get the chase going as the flamboyant Virender Sehwag blasted 64 runs in 36 balls and MS Dhoni contributed with 46 from 28.

But it was Yuvraj Singh who stole the show with a scintillating 25-ball 60 that led the Men in Blue to 211/4, which is India's highest run chase till date.

The Indian men’s cricket team came close to breaking their record in 2016 when they were chasing the West Indies’ 245 at Lauderhill, USA. KL Rahul hammered a 47-ball century while Rohit Sharma added 62 runs to help India closer to the target.

With two needed from the last ball, Dwayne Bravo dismissed MS Dhoni to make sure India stay at 244/4 and lost the match by one run. It is still India’s highest score in T20 cricket while batting second.

Highest run chase in women’s T20I

On October 2, 2023, the West Indies women’s cricket team chased down Australia's 212/6 by scoring 213/3 with one ball remaining to record the highest run chase in women’s T20 International cricket.

In the second T20I of the series, hosts Australia rode on fifties by Ellyse Perry and Phoebe Litchfield to post a massive total. Hayley Matthews, the West Indies captain in the match, led the run chase with a stunning 64-ball 132 and was well-supported by Stefanie Taylor, who scored 59 to drive her team to a historic victory.