Australia’s resurgence in T20Is continued as they scripted history by becoming the first team to successfully notch the highest ever run chase in T20I history. They reached 245/5 in 18.5 overs against New Zealand to win their fourth successive T20I in the ongoing Trans-Tasman Tri-Nation series.
Aussie star Aaron Finch sealed the remarkable feat with a six after D’Arcy Short had top scored with 76 in reply to the Kiwis’ 243-6, a score dominated by Martin Guptill’s 49-ball century. Australia stayed in touch with the asking rate and clobbered the Kiwi bowlers to stamp their authority in a spectacular run-chase. New Zealand will now have to win their next game against England to reach the finale.
It was runs showering at Auckland with New Zealand opener Martin Guptill hitting a sensational 105 off just 54 balls. His opening partner Colin Munro struck 76 runs to give the Kiwis a perfect platform. And then the run flow continued with David Warner (59) and D’Arcy Short sharing a 121-run opening-wicket stand from 51 balls.
In the end, Aaron Finch’s quick-fire 36, helped the Aussies seal the win to maintain their 100 per cent record in the series.
HIGHEST RUN-CHASE IN T20Is
- Australia’s score of 5-245 is the highest successful run chase in the history of all T20 cricket
- The Aussies broke the record set by West Indies in 2015 when they scored 236-6 to stage a commendable victory against South Africa
TOP 3 RUN CHASES IN T20Is
- Australia 245/5 beat New Zealand 244/6
- West Indies 236/6 beat South Africa 231/7
- England 230/8 beat South Africa 229/4
RECORDS THAT TUMBLED AT EDEN PARK
- THE 245/5 is the highest second-innings score in T20 internationals
- It is the fifth-highest total in all T20 internationals
- The 32 sixes scored in the match is an equal record in T20 internationals
- 488 runs were scored at Eden Park which in turn is the second highest match aggregate in T20Is
- New Zealand’s 6-243 is the highest score Australia have conceded in T20 cricket.
- The 6-243 is also Black Caps’ highest T20 total in their history
- NZ conceded 18 wides in the game which is the fourth-most in T20Is
- NZ’s Ben Wheeler conceded 64 runs from his 3.1 overs which is the equal third-most by a bowler in the history of T20Is
Fantastic Guptill
The Kiwi opener was in fine form and showed his intent from the start massacring the Aussie bowlers. He shared a stupendous 132-run stand with Munro in under 11 overs and once his partner got out, he continued in a similar fashion to wreck havoc. The stylish right-hander, who was snubbed at the Indian Premier League auctions, smashed nine sixes on his way to his second T20I century.
| Runs | Balls | 4/6 | Strike Rate |
| 115 | 54 | 6/9 | 194.44 |
Become the record T20I run-scorer ✅
Score a second T20I century! ✅What an innings @Martyguptill! 🙌 #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/RZ5ZgHr2Ps
— ICC (@ICC) February 16, 2018
RECORDS SET BY GUPTILL
- Martin Guptill’s century from 49 balls is the fastest by a New Zealander, overtaking Brendon McCullum’s previous record of 50 deliveries
- Guptill also overtook McCullum’s mark of 2140 career runs to be the highest run-scorer in the history of T20 Internationals. He has 2188 career runs
- The opener also joined an elite list of only becoming the sixth player to have reached two centuries in T20Is
TOP 5 RUN GETTERS IN T20Is
- Martin Guptill (NZ) – 2188 runs
- Brendon McCullum (NZ) – 2140 runs
- Virat Kohli (IND) – 1956 runs
- T Dilshan (SL) – 1889 runs
- Shoaib Malik (PAK) – 1821 runs
