The most striking statistics to come out of an incredible run-chase
259 The target that South Africa successfully chased down against West Indies in Centurion, setting a new T20 world record. The previous highest also came in an international match when Australia chased down 244 against New Zealand in 2018.
517 Runs scored by South Africa and West Indies, the first-ever T20I to aggregate 500-plus runs. These are also the most runs scored in all T20 cricket – including domestic games – surpassing the 515 runs scored by Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators in Rawalpindi during the recently concluded PSL.
0 250-plus totals by South Africa and West Indies in men’s T20Is before Sunday. South Africa’s previous highest total was 241 for 6 against England in 2009, while West Indies’ was 245 for 6 against India in 2016. There have only been five totals higher than what South Africa and West Indies each put up in all T20Is.
81 Boundaries by South Africa and West Indies in this game, another T20 record, going past the 78 recorded during the PSL game between Sultans and Gladiators earlier this month.
35 Sixes hit by South Africa and West Indies, the highest for a T20I, beating the 33 sixes between Bulgaria and Serbia in 2022. West Indies hit 22 sixes, the joint-highest by a team in a T20I, equaling Afghanistan’s 22 effort against Ireland in 2019.
102 South Africa’s total by the sixth over, the highest Powerplay total by a Full Member in men’s T20Is, eclipsing West Indies’ 98 for 4 against Sri Lanka in 2021.
South Africa needed just 5.3 overs to reach the 100-run mark, the second-fastest team 100 in men’s T20Is (where ball-by-ball data is available). The fastest is by Romania in 5.2 overs against Serbia in 2021.
15 Balls taken by Quinton de Kock to bring up his fifty, the fastest for South Africa in T20Is. De Kock already held the Proteas record with his 17-ball fifty against England in Durban in 2020.
39 Balls taken by Johnson Charles to complete his century, the joint fourth-fastest in men’s T20Is. It is also the fastest hundred for the West Indies in men’s T20Is, bettering Chris Gayle’s 47-ball effort against England in the 2016 T20 World Cup.
4 The record for most 200-plus targets chased down by a T20I team, now jointly held by South Africa and India. (ESPN Cricinfo)