India’s Top 3 chases in T20Is

Team India have made a fantastic start to their tour of New Zealand, winning the first two T20Is comprehensively, and thus taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. In the first game of the tour, India chased down 204, which was the fourth time they chased over 200 in T20Is.

Before the Auckland game, they chased 200-plus targets against West Indies at Hyderabad in December 2019, versus Sri Lanka at Mohali in December 2009, and against Australia at Rajkot in October 2013.

Despite having an inconsistent run in T20Is over the last few years, India are the most successful side in the format while chasing a target of over 200. Australia are second on the list with two successful chases of 200-plus. South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, England, Bangladesh and Qatar have done so once each. As India look to clinch the series against the Kiwis with a victory in the third T20I, we look back at India’s top 3 chases in T20Is.

#3 204 v New Zealand at Auckland, January 2020

Shreyas Iyer

India chased down 200 for the fourth time against New Zealand at Auckland on January 24, 2020. In a high-scoring encounter, India eased their way to 204 with an over to spare. Shreyas Iyer was the star for India in the chase with an unbeaten 58 from 29 balls. Iyer finished off the game in style, smashing Tim Southee for a six.

India got off to a poor start in the chase, with Rohit Sharma being sent back by Mitchell Santner for 7. Lokesh Rahul (56 from 27) and Virat Kohli (45 from 32) kept India in the hunt before Iyer took them past the target. Southee and Santner were taken for 48 and 50 runs respectively in their four overs.

Earlier, New Zealand posted an impressive 203 for 5 on the board courtesy fifties from Colin Munro (59 from 42), Kane Williamson (51 from 26) and Ross Taylor (54 not out from 27). The match marked the first instance of five players scoring a half-century in the same T20I.

#2 207 vs Sri Lanka at Mohali, December 2009

Yuvraj Singh

The 2nd T20I of the two-match series between India and Sri Lanka at Mohali on December 12, 2009 also saw India chasing a score of 200-plus. Set to win a highly challenging 207, India were guided by brilliant fifties from Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh.

While Sehwag got India off to a blazing start with 64 from 36 balls smashing seven fours and three sixes, Yuvraj blasted three fours and five maximums in his unbeaten 60 off 25 balls. Skipper MS Dhoni (46 from 28) also played a crucial role to ensure the momentum remained with India in the tense chase.

Angelo Mathews was taken for 49 in 3.1 overs while Kaushalya Weeraratne went for his 43 in his 3 and Nuwan Kulasekara for 50 in his four. Thanks to India’s brilliant batting effort, India won the match by six wickets with five balls to spare.

Earlier, having elected to bat first after winning the toss, Sri Lanka put up an impressive 206 for 7 on the board. Skipper Kumar Sangakkara led from the front for the visitors with 59 from 31 balls, a knock featuring eight fours and two sixes. Towards the end, Mathews chipped in with an unbeaten 26 from 13 balls to take Sri Lanka past the 200 mark.

Even as the other bowlers went for plenty, Yuvraj held his own with 3 for 23 before his heroics with the bat took India home.

#1 208 vs West Indies at Hyderabad, December 2019

Virat Kohli

India’s previous chase of 200-plus came as recently as December 6, 2019. The master of chases, skipper Kohli, was at it again as India hunted down a tough target of 208 with ease.

Kohli posted his career-best 94 not out, which came off only 50 balls as India emerged triumphant in the match by six wickets, with an over and two balls to spare. The Indian captain smashed six fours and an equal number of sixes in the innings as West Indies bowlers could only stand and admire his wristy flicks and drivers.

Kohli was well-supported in the chase by the in-form Rahul, who slammed an impressive 62 from 40 balls. The Kohli-Rahul duo featured in a 100-run stand for the second wicket after Rohit fell cheaply in the chase.

West Indies bowlers suffered at the hands of Kohli and Rahul as Kesrick Williams was taken for 60 in 3.4 overs while Jason Holder and Khary Pierre conceded over 40 runs. Earlier, Shimron Hetmyer registered his maiden T20I fifty, scoring 56 from 41. This was after Evin Lewis got the team off to a flyer with 40 from 17 balls, a knock featuring three fours and four sixes.

Skipper Kieron Pollard (37 from 19), and Jason Holder (24* from 9) lifted West Indies past 200, but it was far from enough.