The highest World Cup run chase is a record that has been handed over from team to team over the years with Pakistan's record run-chase over Sri Lanka in the 2023 World Cup being the latest.
The Cricket World Cup has witnessed several jaw-dropping matches over the years. That includes some high-intensity matches that went right down to the wire. Teams also went on to script some historic run-chases.
Let us look at the top 10 successful highest World Cup run chases in history.
| Team | Opposition | Score | Year |
| Pakistan | Sri Lanka | 345/4 | 2003 |
| Ireland | England | 329/7 | 2011 |
| Bangladesh | Scotland | 322/4 | 2015 |
| Bangladesh | West Indies | 322/3 | 2019 |
| Sri Lanka | Zimbabwe | 313/7 | 1992 |
| Sri Lanka | England | 312/1 | 2015 |
| Ireland | Netherlands | 307/4 | 2011 |
| Ireland | West Indies | 307/6 | 2015 |
| England | West Indies | 301/9 | 2007 |
| South Africa | India | 300/7 | 2011 |
Fastest bowlers in cricket history
Contents
- 1 Top 10 highest World Cup run chase
- 1.1 Pakistan (345/4) – against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad – 2023
- 1.2 Ireland (329/7) – against England in Bangalore – 2011
- 1.3 Bangladesh (322/4) – against Scotland in Nelson – 2015
- 1.4 Bangladesh (322/3) – against West Indies in Taunton – 2019
- 1.5 Sri Lanka (313/7) – against Zimbabwe in New Plymouth – 1992
- 1.6 Sri Lanka (312/1) – against England in Wellington – 2015
- 1.7 Ireland (307/4) – against Netherlands in Kolkata – 2011
- 1.8 Ireland (307/6) – against West Indies in Nelson – 2015
- 1.9 England (301/9) against West Indies in Bridgetown – 2007
- 1.10 South Africa (300/7) against India in Nagpur – 2011
Top 10 highest World Cup run chase
Pakistan (345/4) – against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad – 2023
On October 10, 2023, Pakistan recorded the highest World Cup run chase in the history of World Cups. The team, captained by Babar Azam, beat Sri Lanka by six wickets at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. They chased down a target of 345 with 10 balls left in their innings.
Mohammad Rizwan became the Player of the Match after he scored 131 runs off 121 balls with the help of eight fours and three sixes. Abdullah Shafique, who replaced Fakhar Zaman in the playing XI, became the first Pakistani cricketer to score a hundred on World Cup debut.
Saud Shakeel and Iftikhar Ahmed played handy cameos to take Pakistan past the finish line in 48.2 overs. Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama scored hundreds for Sri Lanka, but their valiant efforts could not pay dividends.
Ireland (329/7) – against England in Bangalore – 2011
In one of the biggest upsets in the history of World Cups, Ireland beat England by three wickets back in 2011 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore in the highest World Cup run chase at the time. After opting to bat first, the Three Lions, led by Andrew Strauss, racked up a mammoth score of 327 for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs.
Jonathan Trott, the current head coach of the Afghanistan national team, scored 92 runs off as many balls with the help of nine fours. Ian Bell lent him support by scoring 81 runs with six fours and a six. Earlier, Kevin Pietersen laid the platform with a quickfire knock of 59 while opening the batting.
Chasing the huge target of 330, Ireland found themselves in a rabbit hole after being reduced to 115 for five in 24.2 overs. But then, Kevin O’Brien scored 113 runs off 63 balls with 13 fours and six sixes to help Ireland chase down the target with five balls to spare.
Bangladesh (322/4) – against Scotland in Nelson – 2015
Mashrafe Mortaza’s Bangladesh were exceptional when they faced Scotland in a Pool A match of the 2015 World Cup at the Saxton Oval in Nelson. Their decision to field first backfired as Scotland amassed a big score of 318 for the loss of eight wickets in their 50 overs.
Kyle Coetzer led the charge for the Scotts after he scored 156 runs off 134 balls with 17 fours and four sixes. Matt Machan, Preston Mommsen, and Richie Berrington scored 35, 39 and 26 respectively. Taskin Ahmed picked up three wickets and was the standout bowler for the Tigers.
Thereafter, Bangladesh chased down the target with 11 balls left in their innings. Tamim Iqbal, who was left out of the squad for the 2023 World Cup, scored 95 runs off 100 balls with nine fours and a six. Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim scored 62, 52 not out and 60 respectively.
This was the highest World Cup run chase of the 2015 edition.
Bangladesh (322/3) – against West Indies in Taunton – 2019
Back on June 17, 2019, Bangladesh registered one of their greatest victories in the history of World Cups. The Tigers beat the West Indies by seven wickets at The Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton. Chasing the target of 322 was never going to be straightforward for the Tigers.
Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar laid the platform with a partnership of 52 runs for the opening wicket. But it was Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das, who did the damage with the bat in hand. With the Tigers being reduced to 133 for three in 19 overs, Shakib and Litton took charge.
The duo put on an unbeaten partnership of 189 runs for the fourth wickets as Bangladesh chased down the target with 51 balls to spare. Shakib scored 124 runs off 99 balls with 16 fours and bagged the Player of the Match award. Litton also blazed away to scoring 94 runs off 69 balls with eight fours and four sixes.
Bangladesh thus recorded the highest World Cup run chase in back-to-back editions.
Sri Lanka (313/7) – against Zimbabwe in New Plymouth – 1992
On February 2023, 1992, Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe by three wickets at the Pukekura Park in New Plymouth. After being put in to bat first, Zimbabwe scored 312 for the loss of four wickets in 50 overs. Andy Flower was the star of the show after he scored 115 runs off 152 balls with eight fours and a six.
Kevin Arnott and Andy Waller scored 52 and 83 not out respectively. Pramodya Wickramasinghe and Asanka Gurusinha picked up two wickets apiece.
Roshan Mahanama and Athulu Samasekera laid the foundation with a partnership of 128 runs for the opening wicket. Even as Mahanama scored 59, Samasekera racked up 75 brisk runs off 61 balls with 11 fours and a six.
Thereafter, Arjuna Ranatunga came to the party and scored 88 unbeaten runs off 61 balls with nine fours and a six. On the back of his knock, Sri Lanka chased down the target with four balls to spare
Sri Lanka (312/1) – against England in Wellington – 2015
Sri Lanka beat England by nine wickets in the World Cup 2015 match at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington in the highest World Cup run chase for Sri Lanka. After opting to bat first, the Three Lions scored 309 for the loss of six wickets. Joe Root was the standout English batter after he scored 121 runs off 108 balls with 14 fours and two sixes.
Sri Lanka came out firing on all cylinders and chased down the target with 16 balls to spare. Lahiru Thirimanne raced his way to scoring an unbeaten 139 off 143 balls with 13 fours and to sixes.
He was also involved in a partnership of 100 runs with TM Dilshan, who scored 44 runs. Kumar Sangakkara won the Player of the match award for scoring 117 off 86 with 11 fours and two sixes.
Almost forgot about 2015 World Cup clash against England.
Not a humiliation but Sangakkara and Thirimanne both scored unbeaten centuries chasing 300+ against England.
Sri Lanka has done it twice. #CWC23 https://t.co/lHgHzQP6Kv pic.twitter.com/lASgTZn894
— Naveen Peiris (@_Naviya_) October 6, 2023
Ireland (307/4) – against Netherlands in Kolkata – 2011
Back in 2011 at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Ireland beat Netherlands by six wickets in a Group B match of the World Cup. After being put in to bat first, the Dutch team scored 306 in 50 overs.
Ryan ten Doeschate scored 106 runs off 108 balls with 13 fours and a six. John Mooney and Paul Stirling picked up two wickets apiece for Ireland. Ireland chased down the target with 14 balls to spare.
William Porterfield and Stirling put on 177 runs for the opening wicket of 27 overs. Stirling was at his very best as he scored 101 runs off 72 balls with 14 fours and two sixes. Porterfield and Nial O’Brien scored 68 and 57 not out, respectively.
Ireland (307/6) – against West Indies in Nelson – 2015
Ireland recorded one of their most famous wins in World Cups after they defeated West Indies by four wickets in 2015 at the Saxton Oval in Nelson. After being put in to bat first, the Caribbean team scored 304 for the loss of seven wickets in 50 overs.
Lendl Simmons scored 102 runs off 84 balls with nine fours and five sixes. Daren Sammy lent him support with a knock of 89 off 67 balls. The duo put on 154 runs for the sixth wicket off 21.1 overs.
Ireland chased down the target with 25 balls left in their innings. Stirling was stupendous to stay the least as he racked up 92 runs off 84 balls with nine fours and three sixes. Ed Joyce and Niall O’Brien scored 84 and 79, respectively. Not quite the highest World Cup run chase, but a fine effort indeed.
England (301/9) against West Indies in Bridgetown – 2007
In the 2007 World Cup, England beat West Indies by one wicket at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. After being sent in to bat first, West Indies scored 300 in 49.5 overs on the back of half-centuries from Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, and Marlon Samuels.
The match went right down to the wire as England won with a ball to spare. Kevin Pietersen put forth his A-game after he scored 100 runs off 91 balls with 10 fours and a six. Skipper Michael Vaughan also stepped up with a knock of 79 runs off 68 balls with six fours and two sixes.
South Africa (300/7) against India in Nagpur – 2011
Back on March 12, 2011, South Africa beat India by three wickets at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur. After opting to bat first, India scored 296 in 48.4 overs. Sachin Tendulkar scored 111 runs off 101 balls with eight fours and three sixes.
The highest World Cup run chase for South Africa was also India's only loss in the 2015 World Cup campaign that they went on to win.
Tendulkar’s Last#OnThisDay in 2011, @sachin_rt scored his last World Cup Hundred – 111 v South Africa at Nagpur.
India looked good when Tendulkar fell in the 40th over at a score of 267.
But then the collapse happened & India bowled out for just 296pic.twitter.com/pk50r2vWvY
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) March 12, 2023
Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag scored 69 and 73 runs respectively. The Proteas went on to chase the target in 49.4 overs. Hashim Amla set the platform by scoring 61 runs off 72 balls.
Later, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers scored 69 and 52, respectively, to take South Africa home. Faf du Plessis, Johan Botha and Robin Peterson played useful knocks of 25 not out, 23 and 18, respectively, to help the Proteas clinch victory.
