Luke Wright's 153 helps Sussex pull off the highest ever run chase in T20 history
Sussex’s Luke Wright hit a swashbuckling 153 off 66 balls to lead a record run chase against Essex in the Natwest T20 Blast on Friday. The 29-year-old’s innings contained 12 boundaries and 11 sixes, and he has now surpassed Essex’s Graham Napier, who made 152 against Sussex in 2008, for the highest individual score in domestic Twenty20 cricket in England.
Having been set an intimidating target of 226 in 20 overs, Sussex’s chances of pulling off a victory looked slim. Their situation got worse with skipper Chris Nash and Craig Cachopa departing within the first 3 overs, to leave them at 14/2. Harry Finch fell soon after, leaving Sussex an improbable 159 to get from 13 overs.
The situation suited the erratic Wright, who opened the batting for Sussex, as he had the license to go hell for leather without having to think of the match situation at any stage. Matt Machan gave him able support at the other end, contributing 41 from 26 balls in an unbroken stand of 159, which saw Sussex astonishingly chase down the target with all of 9 balls to spare and complete the highest successful run-chase in T20 history.
The record had previously belonged to Cape Cobras, who had chased down 224 against The Titans back in 2011.
Earlier in the day, Essex, who were sent in to bat, had started off their innings in superb style. Jesse Ryder, Essex’s overseas recruit, and Tom Westley had smashed the bowling to all corners in a breathtaking partnership of 124 in 11 overs. Ryder was the dominant partner, making 75 off 37 balls before being dismissed caught on the long-on boundary.
One the New Zealander was dismissed, Westley ensured that the momentum that they had built up didn’t drop by hitting an unbeaten 109 from 58 balls, which included 12 fours and five sixes.
The captain Ryan ten Doeschate played a nice little cameo at the end, scoring 30 from 15 balls, to take the Essex score to a colossal 225, and he would have been right in thinking, at that moment, that the match was pretty much in the bag.
Here are the 5 highest successful run chases in T20 cricket:
| Team | Opposition | Score | Year |
| Sussex | Essex | 226/3 | 2014 |
| Cape Cobras | Titans | 224/5 | 2011 |
| Somerset | Hampshire | 220/4 | 2010 |
| Central Districts | Otago | 220/4 | 2006 |
| Rajasthan Royals | Deccan Chargers | 217/7 | 2008 |