Season after season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), it further proved to be a sensational domestic professional Twenty20 league. The fans have had witnessed some absolute nail-biters where totals in excess of 200 have been scaled down with ease.
The cash-rich tournament recently-concluded its eleventh edition while dishing out some absolute thrillers.
Chasing a high-scoring total does constitute a major reason why the format of T20 has been such a rage among the masses.
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More than anything else, a successful chase over the ten-run an over mark has guaranteed us entertainment worth its price.To successfully chase down a total in excess of 200, it is essential for the batsmen to fire at the top and lay a solid foundation.
While a lot of teams have indeed scaled down the 200-run mark, there stand out a few teams in particular. So much so, they achieved the feat far more frequently than the other teams.
In the article below, we have a look at the teams that have chased a target in an excess of 200 after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) registered the glory to become the champions for the third-time in IPL.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Super Kings thrashed Kane Williamson’s Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets at the historic Wankhede Stadium on May 27.
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Pertinently, on the most number of occasions during their stay in the billion dollar IPL, teams went on to make a mess of it.
1. KINGS XI PUNJAB- three times:
The otherwise mercurial outfit emerging from Punjab, tops the charts for the most number of successful chases over 200.
The Mohali-based outfit chased down targets not once or twice, but on three distinct occasions, which easily makes them head this elite list of teams.
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Firstly, it was in 2010 in Kolkata when the Punjabis breached the 200-run target barrier for the first time.
Riding on the back of a sensational century from Sri Lankan import Mahela Jayawardene, the visitors hoisted their flag at the Eden Gardens with utmost ease and grace.
In such an edition that was otherwise below par for the Kings XI, this particular win stood out for the team.
2014 was an edition which was marked by some high octane batting displays by the IPL franchise KXIP.
A couple of such displays came in run chases, as the George Bailey-led outfit scaled targets successfully in excess of 200 on two occasions.
In their season opener against the Chennai Super Kings at Abu Dhabi, the men in red chased down 205 with relative ease. Glenn Maxwell unleashed his fury against the CSK spinners to make a huge difference.
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Maxwell’s knock of 95 off just 43 deliveries stood out as he decimated the Super Kings. He was well supported by David Miller, as the Proteas batsman notched up a half-century.
In that very edition, needing 206 to win at Hyderabad, the Kings were at it again. This time around, it was a complete team performance as a couple of rapid 40’s. Plus, paired with a half-century from gloveman Wriddhiman Saha, who eventually saw the side reaching to the mark with eight balls to spare.
- CHENNAI SUPER KINGS – two-time:
The most worshipped side in IPL history, Chennai Super Kings, stands second on the list of teams with most number of successful chases over 200.
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It was in the 2012 edition at Chennai when the yellow brigade first achieved the feat. Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team was up against Daniel Vettori-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Needing a colossal target of 206, after Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli entertained with half centuries, the hosts had their task cut out.
Opener Faf du Plessis got the side off to a flying start as his knock of 71 off 46 deliveries included an array of eye-pleasing strokes.
The most dramatic aspect was the penultimate over of the chase, as all-rounder Albie Morkel smashed Virat Kohli all-around the park for 28 runs.
The hosts eventually got home on the very last ball of the chase in IPL.
In 2018, the second instance of Chennai achieving the feat came barely a week ago, once again at their fortress of Chepauk, but this time against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
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Requiring 203, it was England import Sam Billings who stole the show with a resplendent knock of 56 off just 23 deliveries. The hosts got home with just a ball to spare as a six over mid-wicket from Ravindra Jadeja off Vinaykumar sealed the chase for the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side.
- RAJASTHAN ROYALS – one time:
Photo Credit: IPL.
Third on the list, is the Rajasthan Royals with the most number of successful chases over 200. This run chase still stands out as the highest ever chase in IPL history, as the then Shane Warne led outfit scaled down 215 in some style.
The first half-of-the-game in the first edition (2008) of the IPL, was rocked by Australian icon Andrew Symonds. The hard-hitting sensation stole the show with his unbeaten 117-run knock.
However, a bigger storm was supposed to sweep off the Deccan Chargers. Yusuf Pathan’s 61 off 28 deliveries laid the foundation for a record chase.
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With skipper Warne finishing the game in style with his cameo. The game is still among the most memorable ones for Royals’ fans.
- DELHI DAREDEVILS – one-time:
Fourth on the list of teams with most number of successful chases over 200, is the Delhi Daredevils. Against the Gujarat Lions at a jam-packed Feroze Shah Kotla, Daredevils were chasing a target of 209 in the 2017 edition.
The chase was highlighted by two gifted, fearless and massively talented youngsters. Sanju Samson and Rishab Pant wrecked absolute carnage on the Gujarat outfit. Both shared as many as 16 sixes between them.
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Pant, in particular, was in a mood of his own as he ravaged into the likes of Pradeep Sangwan and James Faulkner.
Thanks to his knock of 97, Daredevils got home with 15 balls to spare as entertainment was unleashed.
- ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE – one time:
Wayback in 2010 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, it was Bangalore’s time to successfully chase down 200, in their fortress.
After the Punjabis posted a healthy 203 on board while riding on a fifty each from Manvinder Bisla and Ravi Bopara. But it was the host team that rose to the occasion.
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Moreover, evergreen Jacques Kallis and Robin Uthappa motored the run chase. In the end, the hosts efficiently got home with seven balls to spare.
Kallis was classy as his unbeaten knock of 89 off 55 steered the run chase.
The blitzkrieg from Robin Uthappa was the performance to watch out for. His knock of 51 off just 21 deliveries shook the opponents.
In an IPL season where they finished third, fans consider it as one of the memorable wins for the then Anil Kumble-led Royal Challengers.
- KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS – one time:
Sixth on the list of teams with most number of successful chases over 200, is the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Probably no bigger occasion to bring up such a feat. The Knight Riders achieved it in the final of the 2014 edition in Bengaluru.
Needing exactly 200 to win after Kings XI Punjab wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha scored a scintillating ton. But the local lad Manish Pandey brought the Knight Riders back in style.
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However, Pandey was utterly flawless as his 94 runs set the base for the Knight Riders. The then Gambhir-led side clinched their second IPL title in three seasons.
Yusuf Pathan too contributed with a timely knock of 36, which included as many as four maximums.
Eventually, the side got home with three deliveries to spare at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium.
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