MEMORABLE FINISHES
Kusal Perera’s unbeaten 153 in pulling off a one-wicket win for Sri Lanka in Durban is the latest talked about knock in Tests. HT takes a look at some of the most nail-biting fourth-innings chases.
MARK WAUGH 116
vs South Africa, Port Elizabeth (March, 1997)
After being skittled for just 108 in their first innings, Australia were left needing 270 to win. The tourists were in early trouble at 2-30 when Mark Waugh arrived at the crease. Across 228 deliveries and for almost six hours, Waugh stood tall in what he later described it as his finest innings. The gifted right-hander’s knock helped Australia seal an unlikely victory.
MARK BUTCHER 173*
vs Australia, Leeds (August, 2001)
The Aussies took a 138-run lead and scored another 176 in quick time, leaving England needing 315 to win. The hosts fell to 2-33 but on a wearing fifth day pitch, against Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Shane Warne and Brett Lee, No.3 Mark Butcher defied the Australians, finishing unbeaten on 173 off 227 deliveries as England got home by six wickets.
JUSTIN LANGER 127 & ADAM GILCHRIST 149*
vs Pakistan, Hobart (November, 1999)
At 5-126, chasing 369 on a wearing fifth-day track against an attack containing Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar and Saqlain Mushtaq, Adam Gilchrist proved that he was a man for all seasons. Playing just his second Test, the keeper-batsman batted in his customary aggressive fashion, teaming up with the irrepressible Langer on the fourth evening, to hand his side the win.
GRAEME SMITH 108 & AB DE VILLIERS 106*
vs Australia, Perth (December, 2012)
Needing 414 to win, Graeme Smith led his side with a brilliant attacking hundred, setting the tone for what would become a historic run chase. He was out for 108 with the score at 172 but AB de Villiers picked up the slack as only he could, making a composed hundred to lead South Africa to their first Test win at the WACA.
KUSAL PERERA 153*
vs South Africa, Durban (February, 2019)
Playing the Proteas for the first time, Kusal Perera stood tall in the first innings by top-scoring with 51 in his side’s total of 191.Sri Lanka, chasing 304 for victory, stumbled to 3-52 and their fate looked all but sealed at 9-226. The left-hander however, managed to keep most of the strike and played some audacious strokes, raising an unbeaten 78-run last-wicket stand with Vishwa Fernando – a first-class record for the tenth wicket in a winning cause – to script a sensational onewicket victory.
BRIAN LARA 153*
vs Australia, Bridgetown (March, 1999)
In Barbados, against one of the most dominant teams in history, Lara took it to the next level. West Indies had been set 308 to win the third Test against Steve Waugh’s Australia in a series that was locked at one-all. On the final day, with his side teetering at 5-105, Lara unfurled a series of dazzling strokes. After Jimmy Adams’ fall, Lara pressed on with the tail. With scores level and the Windies nine down, Lara finished one of the greatest games in Test history with a trademark flowing cover drive.