Bulgaria chased down 244 in 14.2 overs against Gibraltar on Friday (July 11) to set a new T20 record.
Bulgaria chase 244 in 14.2 overs
The tri-nation series between Bulgaria, Gibraltar and Turkey kicked off on July 10 in Sofia, with Gibraltar defeating Bulgaria before Bulgaria beat Turkey later in the day. The first match on Friday saw Gibraltar bowl Turkey out for 149, before chasing the target down in 15.5 overs.
Gibraltar were then in action against their hosts. Put in to bat, they scored an imposing 243-7, on the back of opener Philip Raikes's 33-ball 73, and captain Iain Latin's 28-ball 51. Jakob Gul took 4-37 for Bulgaria.
If Gibraltar thought they would defend the score relatively easily, they were soon proven wrong, as Bulgarian openers Isa Zaroo and skipper Hristo Lakov put on 62 in 4.2 overs before Lakov was caught for 19.
Match 4, Gibraltar vs Bulgaria
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Zaroo and Milan Gogev then combined for four sixes in the sixth over, taking the Powerplay score to 89-1. The onslaught didn't stop even after Zaroo was out for 69 off 24, as overs seven to 11 saw at least one six each.
Bulgaria were 194-2 in 12 overs when Gogev was dismissed for 69 off 27, and wicketkeeper Manan Bashir then hit four sixes in a row. Three more came in the following over to take them to 243-3, but Bashir departed for 70 off 21 just before a single took them to victory in 14.2 overs.
Bulgaria smash chasing records against Serbia
At 17.02 runs per over, this is now the fastest-scoring successful chase of 200 runs or more in all men's T20 cricket. Their 34 balls remaining in the chase is also the most for a run-chase of 200 or more, only behind Serbia's 35 last month (chasing 200, compared to Bulgaria's 244).
The match as a whole saw 465 runs scored off the bat, off 209 balls; at a strike rate of 222.48, that is a record in men's T20 international cricket. Only three matches in men's T20 cricket have had a higher batting strike rate, but all of them saw 150 or fewer runs scored.
Highest run rate in successful chases of 200 or more
| Team | Score | Overs | Run Rate | Opposition | Venue | Year |
| Bulgaria | 244-4 | 14.2 | 17.02 | Gibraltar | Sofia | 2025 |
| Serbia | 200-1 | 14.1 | 14.11 | Slovenia | Belgrade | 2025 |
| Punjab Kings | 262-2 | 18.4 | 14.03 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Eden Gardens | 2024 |
| Surrey | 222-1 | 16 | 13.87 | Middlesex | The Oval | 2018 |
| South Africa | 259-4 | 18.5 | 13.75 | West Indies | Centurion | 2023 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 212-2 | 15.5 | 13.38 | Gujarat Titans | Jaipur | 2025 |
| Middlesex | 227-4 | 17 | 13.35 | Somerset | Taunton | 2019 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 247-2 | 18.3 | 13.35 | Punjab Kings | Hyderabad | 2025 |
| Gladiators | 243-2 | 18.2 | 13.25 | Zalmi | Rawalpindi | 2023 |
| Middlesex | 254-3 | 19.2 | 13.13 | Surrey | The Oval | 2023 |
| Australia | 245-5 | 18.5 | 13.00 | New Zealand | Auckland | 2018 |
Image credit: Instagram / bulgariacricket
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