Top 5 innings in chases in IPL history

Indian Premier league is considered as the most popular T20 tournament in the World. With the rise of IPL, batsmen have found new ways of scoring runs and it has impacted run-scoring in international cricket as well. Batsmen are now often seen scoring centuries in IPL, however most of them have come in the first innings.

The record for highest Individual score in an IPL innings belongs to Chris Gayle who played a blistering knock of 175 runs off 66 balls against Pune Warriors in IPL 2013. He scored a century in just 30 balls during this innings. In this article, let’s look at top IPL innings played by a batsman in run chases which includes two players from India as well.       

Top-5 innings in chases in IPL history

5. Mahela Jayawardene 110* vs KKR, 2010

In the IPL match played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab in the year 2010, KKR put up a score of 200/3 while batting first. For them, Chris Gayle played an explosive knock of 88 runs off 42 balls, which included 6 fours and 8 sixes. Apart from him, captain Sourav Ganguly scored 36 while Manoj Tiwari had a contribution of 35 runs.

Chasing this total of 201 runs, KXIP opener Mahela Jayawardene gave the team a brilliant start and made the chase look very easy. Jayawardene hit a magnificent century scoring 110 runs of 59 balls. He hit 14 fours and 3 sixes in his innings. Captain Kumar Sangakkara and Yuvraj Singh too had vital contribution in the end to ensure victory. Sangakkara scored 38 runs off 22 balls, while Yuvraj played an unbeaten knock of 33 runs off 16 balls.

KXIP chased down the target in 18.2 overs at the loss of 2 wickets, and registered a victory by 8 wickets. Jayawardene was awarded Man of the match for his match winning knock. 

4. Sanath Jayasuriya – 114* vs CSK, 2008

In the IPL match played between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in the inaugural season, Sanath Jayasuriya played a memorable knock. While batting first, Chennai Super Kings scored 156 runs at the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs. S Badrinath scored a half century for them, while captain MS Dhoni hit 43 runs off 35 balls.

In response to this total, Sanath Jayasuriya made a mockery of the chase and blasted a 45-ball century. Jayasuriya scored 114 runs off 48 balls including 9 fours and 11 sixes. Jayasuriya added 82 runs for the first wicket with Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 12 runs off 16 balls.

Mumbai Indians chased this total in only 13.5 overs with 37 balls to spare, at a loss of only 1 wicket. Jayasuriya was adjudged Man of the match for his brilliant knock.

3. Shane Watson 117* vs SRH, 2018

Shane Watson set the stage on fire when he hit a match winning century for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2018 Final. CSK won the toss in this match, and invited Sunrisers Hyderabad to bat first. SRH made a total of 178/6 at the end of 20 overs, with vital contribution from captain Kane Williamson and Yusuf Pathan. Williamson hit 47 runs off 36 balls and Yusuf played a fiery knock of 45 runs off 25 balls. 

While chasing the total, CSK had scored only 20 runs in their first 5 overs. However, Shane Watson accelerated the innings in no time and ensured CSK were ahead in the game. Watson played an unbeaten innings of 117 runs off 57 balls. He hit 11 fours and 8 sixes in his innings. 

CSK chased down this target in 18.3 overs at the loss of 2 wickets, and lifted their third title in IPL History. Shane Watson received Man of the match in the Final for his knock.

2. Virender Sehwag – 119 vs DC, 2011

Dashing Indian opener Virender Sehwag played one the best IPL innings in chases, when he hit a brilliant century against Deccan Chargers in IPL 2011. While batting first, Deccan Chargers put up a total of 175/5 in 20 overs. For them, JP Duminy hit 55 runs off 31 balls including 2 fours and 4 sixes. 

Chasing this target, Virender Sehwag ran down a one-man show as he hit 119 runs off 56 balls. The impact of Sehwag’s innings can be judged from the fact that the second highest scorer for Delhi was James Hopes with 17 runs among the 8 batsmen who batted in the innings. 

Delhi chased this total in 19 overs and registered a victory by 4 wickets. Dale Steyn and Ishant Sharma took 2-wickets each for Hyderabad. Virender Sehwag was awarded player of the match for his innings.

1. Paul Valthaty 120* vs CSK, 2011

Often termed as one-match wonder, Paul Valthaty still holds the record for highest score while chasing. In the IPL match played between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab in 2011, CSK scored 188/4 in 20 overs while batting first. For them Murali Vijay hit 74 runs off 43 balls while S Badrinath scored 66 runs off 56 balls. 

In response to this chase, Paul Valthaty who came to open for KXIP hit a wonderful century. He played an unbeaten knock of 120 runs off 63 balls including 19 fours and 2 sixes. KXIP chased down this total in 19.1 overs, and won the match by 6 wickets.

Paul Valthaty got a huge limelight after this innings and became an overnight star. He performed well in IPL 2011, but could not put up consistent performance afterwards. He had miserable performances in IPL 2012 and 2013, and remained unsold in auction of IPL 2014. Currently, Valthaty works as an Air India employee, where he got the job under sports quota. He also represents Air India in the domestic tournaments.