A 300-plus run chase in ODI cricket is a difficult assignment, and achieving it in a tournament like the World Cup is an accomplishment for any side. Only nine times in the quadrennial spectacular has a team successfully pursued down such a target.
This covers the recent ICC World Cup 2023 match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which completed on October 10 in Hyderabad.
The only men’s cricket team engaged in three 300+ chases is Ireland, who last competed in the World Cup in 2015. In the men’s ODI World Cup, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have each accomplished the feat twice.
Let’s quickly review the five scripted chases that have been the most successful in ICC World Cup history.
1. Pakistan 345/4 vs Sri Lanka, October 8, 2023 – Hyderabad
Pakistan rode the brilliance of Mohammad Rizwan, who was aided by a superb start from World Cup debutant Abdullah Shafique.
Pakistan lost two wickets in the powerplay overs after being set a difficult 345-run mark after brilliant tons from Kusal Mendis (122) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (108). That’s when Rizwan and Shafique banded together.
Though they accelerated in the middle overs, the pair rotated the strike firmly with boundaries arriving seldom to relieve the burden of the asking rate. Shafique scored his maiden ODI century in five innings in 97 balls.
Rizwan continued to take calculated chances after Shafique’s exit in the 34th over, while experiencing some pain on the field.
When Pakistan completed the greatest run-chase in the ODI World Cup, the wicketkeeper-batter was undefeated on 131. This was also the first time four centurions appeared in a single World Cup game.
2. Ireland 329/7 vs England, March 2, 2011 – Bengaluru
This was one of the most shocking upsets of the 2011 World Cup. Kevin O’Brien, Ireland’s middle-order hitter, hit a spectacular century to lead his team to an unlikely three-wicket victory over England.
O’Brien hit 113 off 63 balls, including 13 boundaries and six sixes and an astounding strike rate of 179.37. He reached his century in just 50 balls, breaking Matthew Hayden’s (66 balls) World Cup record for the fastest century.
Ireland were 111 for 5 at one stage when O’Brien put up a remarkable 162-run stand with Alex Cusack. Despite the fact that the Irish star was run out in the last over, John Mooney and Trent Johnston made sure they didn’t blow the chase. Ireland went on to set the record for the most successful pursuit in World Cup history at the time.
3. Bangladesh 322/3 vs West Indies, June 17, 2019 – Taunton
In the 2019 World Cup, Bangladesh was the only side to complete a 300-plus objective. In the first innings, veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das reacted to the West Indies’ pyrotechnics.
Shakib scored his second century of the tournament, leading Bangladesh to their most successful chase in World Cup history. The left-handed hitter and Litton Das (94*) combined for an unbroken 189-run partnership.
The latter was the most aggressive of the two, blasting eight boundaries and four sixes as Bangladesh won with 51 balls remaining.
4. Bangladesh 322/4 vs Scotland, March 4, 2015 – Nelson
Kyle Coetzer’s magnificent 156 propelled Scotland to 318 for 8 in 50 overs in this match. Bangladesh’s pursuit suffered an early setback as regular opener Anamul Haque was injured while fielding in the 31st over of Scotland’s innings.
However, this did not prevent the Tigers from recording their most successful ODI chase in history. Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, and Mahmudullah all struck fifties, while Sabbir Rahman was undefeated on 42. Tamim fell five runs short of his century, despite Bangladesh completing the chase in 48.1 overs.
5. Sri Lanka 313/7 vs Zimbabwe, February 23, 1992 – New Plymouth
Sri Lanka became the first cricket team in history to chase a 300-plus mark in an ODI World Cup match. On February 23, 1992, the Lankans overcame Zimbabwe by three wickets while chasing 313 with four balls to spare in a great day of courageous hitting.
Andy Flower’s magnificent 115, along with Andy Waller’s powerful 45-ball 83, propelled the African side to a massive total of 312 at Pukekura Park.
For Sri Lanka, openers Roshan Mahanama (59) and Athula Samarasekara (75) got the ball rolling before Arjuna Ranatunga accelerated in the middle. Ranatunga hit nine fours and a six in his undefeated 88. Sri Lanka crossed the finish line in the final over.
