Run Chase Strategy — How Teams Approach Chasing Targets in Cricket
A run chase is one of cricket's most tactically complex situations. Learn how batters pace a chase, when to attack vs conserve wickets, and how required run rate shapes strategy.
A run chase — batting second in pursuit of a set target — is the most tactically layered situation in limited-overs cricket. Unlike setting a target (where the batting team has full freedom), a chase is played against a ticking clock: the required run rate increases every over where fewer runs than needed are scored. Good chase management is a learnable skill.
Pacing a Chase
The fundamental principle of a T20 chase is staying ahead of (or level with) the required run rate without losing too many early wickets. A team chasing 165 needs 8.25 per over from the start. If they score 7.5 per over for the first 10 overs, the required rate climbs to 9 per over for the final 10 — still achievable. But if they score 6 per over early, they will need 12 per over at the death — very hard even with wickets in hand.
Wickets vs Run Rate
The fundamental chase tension is wickets vs run rate. Batting conservatively (protecting wickets) slows the run rate; batting aggressively (chasing the rate) risks losing wickets. Elite chasers — MS Dhoni was the archetype — manage this balance by accurately reading when to push and when to consolidate, adjusting approach ball by ball rather than committing to a single gear for the innings.
Test Match Chases
Test match chases are structurally different. A team given a fourth-innings target must balance time (overs available to achieve the target) against wickets — but survival for a draw can be equally valid. Famous fourth-innings chases include Ben Stokes's 135* for England chasing 359 vs Australia (Headingley 2019). Modern Bazball England has redefined willingness to attempt high Test match chases.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 'required run rate' in cricket?
The required run rate (RRR) is the number of runs per over a batting side needs to score from the current point in a chase to win. It increases every over where fewer runs are scored than needed.
What is a good approach for opening a T20 chase?
Ideally, score at or slightly below the required rate in the first 6 powerplay overs while keeping wickets in hand. This avoids a sharp increase in the required rate while preserving batting resources for the death overs.
Who is considered the best chaser in cricket history?
MS Dhoni is widely considered the best limited-overs chaser — particularly in T20Is and the IPL with CSK. His method of staying calm under pressure and calculating exactly what was needed at each point was famously precise.