T20 World Cup 2026: 5 highest successful run chases (Source Alex Davidson/Getty Image)

A successful chase in T20 cricket is always an exciting sight. Teams going after big totals always end up being adrenaline-inducing affairs, pacing their innings and adapting to the situation at hand. Be it a calculated equation taken deep or a blitz from ball one, every successful takedown of a substantial total is a breathtaking spectacle. 

The T20 World Cup 2026 was no less.

There have been many crackerjack contests in the ongoing tournament, which has reached its last leg, as India are all set to take on New Zealand in the finals at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. While a few low-scoring thrillers entertained the crowd, it was the high-scoring encounters that produced fierce battles between bat and ball. 

Here are the 5 highest successful run chases from T20 WC 2026 5. South Africa vs New Zealand, Match 24

The first encounter between the two teams saw South Africa chase down 176 in comfortable fashion. Marco Jansen’s first four-wicket haul helped restrict the BlackCaps to 175, despite respectable knocks from Finn Allen, Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell, and a cameo towards the end from the bat of James Neesham.

When it came to the chase, skipper Aiden Markram then took matters into his own hands. The captain scored 86 from just 44 balls, reaching his half-century off just 19, also the fastest in the tournament. The early onslaught set a platform for the Proteas. It was an innings of class, and watching him play his drives was a sight to behold.

4. Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka, Match 38 Sikandar Raza (Photo by Prakash Singh/Getty Images)

Zimbabwe were the revelation of the group stages, topping their group in comfortable fashion.

Their unbeaten run to the Super 8 stage came on the back of a thrilling chase against Sri Lanka. Restricting the co-hosts to 178, with tight bowling in the middle overs, the Chevrons set themselves up for a gettable target.

Zimbabwe started their chase cautiously, needing 101 in the last 10 overs, before Sikandar Raza's blitz of 45 runs in just 26 balls helped them pull things back.

Opener Brian Bennett carried his bat with 63 of 41 balls, the ever-consistent presence in Zimbabwe’s batting lineup.

3. New Zealand vs Afghanistan, Match 4 Tim Seifert. (Photo Source: Joe Allison-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

New Zealand kicked off their T20 World Cup campaign in 2026 by harnessing the demons of 2024. An upset against Afghanistan marked a dismal campaign in 2024, but a collective effort with the bat helped them right the wrongs of the previous edition. 

Chasing a daunting 183 on a Chennai wicket known to favour spinners, the Kiwis were dented early by Mujeeb-ur-Rahman’s double strike, getting rid of Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra in two balls. Glenn Phillips and Tim Seifert helped stabilise the ship before late cameos from Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman and Mitchell Santner helped them over the line comfortably in 17.5 overs.

2. Sri Lanka vs Australia, Match 30 Pathum Nissanka (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Before facing Sri Lanka, Australia were on the brink of elimination in the group stages, needing a win against the co-hosts to keep their qualification hopes alive. Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head gave the Aussies a lightning start, looking to cross the 200-run margin before the Lankan bowlers pulled things back, restricting the 2021 champions to 181. 

From there it was the Pathum Nissanka show. Supported ably by Kusal Mendis, who got 51 off 38 deliveries, the opener’s unbeaten century filled with fluent strokeplay and a late onslaught put the Lankan Lions through to the Super-8 stage, leaving the Aussies all but eliminated in what was a rather disappointing campaign for the Mitchell Marsh-led side.

1. India vs West Indies, Match 52

Sanju Samson & Shivam Dube (Photo by Shubhajit Roy Karmakar/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

India went up against West Indies in a virtual knock-out game, with the winner booking a place in the semi-final. West Indies being put into bat, started slow in the powerplay before losing wickets in the middle overs. Roston Chase’s 40 off 25 balls formed the backbone of the innings, and a late unbeaten partnership of 76 runs from just 35 balls between Rovman Powell and Jason Holder took West Indies to a respectable total of 195.

Chasing 196, India got home courtesy of a Sanju Samson masterclass. With wickets falling all round and batters getting starts but not being able to carry on, the wicketkeeper played with stillness and calm, chipping away at the score. He finished unbeaten on 97 from 50 balls, helping India book their place in the semifinals.