Giant strides at the end of the game: Most runs in death overs in an ODI chase

Cricket history has witnessed massive chases, with the biggest one on the international stage being a 434-run total from Australia chased down by South Africa with a 438/9 in 2006.

While big numbers do tell us stories of big chases, they sometimes don’t show how a team was almost out of the chase, but pulled things back in the end.

These runs come in heaps in the death overs generally, and when in full flow, we have seen batters go all out and bring their team back into the game. Below are the top two instances where batters have churned the most runs from death overs during an ODI chase.

Ireland vs New Zealand, Dublin - 86 runs by Michael Bracewell

New Zealand won this game in the nick of time - by one run with one wicket left. Ireland did well in the first innings to score 300/9 with a century from Harry Tector (113 off 117). While defending the total too, Ireland were breathing down New Zealand’s neck, reducing them to 200/6 at the end of the 40th.

With 101 runs needed in 10 overs, the game seemed to be tilting in the hosts' favour. However, Michael Bracewell, who was at 41* (46) at this point, orchestrated a powerful comeback.

Needing 40 off the last 18, Bracewell and No. 10 batter Lockie Ferguson scored 16 runs off the last 48th over, reducing the equation to 24 off 12. The Kiwis then needed 20 from the final over, which Bracewell finished with 4, 4, 6, 4, 6 to seal it in his team’s favour.

Bracewell finished with 127* (82), scoring his last 86 runs off 36 balls to help New Zealand register their record chase.

South Africa vs Pakistan, Johannesburg - 77 runs by Fakhar Zaman

Pakistan attempted to chase down South Africa’s 341/6 in Johannesburg in April 2021. But despite an unbelievable 193 (155) from Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan ended up on the losing side that day. Earlier in the game, Quinton de Kock (80), Temba Buvama (92), Rassie van der Dussen (60) and David Miller (50*) helped set up a strong total for the Proteas.

During the chase, despite opener Fakhar Zaman remaining at the crease for a long time, wickets periodically fell on the other end, hurting Pakistan’s chances. Pakistan needed 116 off the last 10 overs, but had only three wickets in hand.

After Zaman, the second-highest score was Babar Azam’s 31 (33). Zaman scored 77 runs in the death trying to reduce the 116-run deficit, including three consecutive sixes off Tabraiz Shamsi in the 44th over. Despite the fireworks, Pakistan fell short by 17 runs.

Most runs from death overs in ODI chase

Author: Varsha Badrinath

Featured photo: Twitter / Black Caps