Fourth innings chases
The most thrilling results from Test history where tables were turned
MAR 1978: GEORGETOWN Aus bt WI by 3 wkts
Both teams had lost players to Kerry Packer’s world series and that meant Australia had to get Bobby Simpson out of retirement to lead. Then 42, Simpson made 67 in the first innings and bowled 27 overs in the Test. After Jeff Thomson and Wayne Clarke restricted West Indies with four-wicket hauls, Simpson played an important hand in getting Australia the first innings lead. Set a target of 359, Australia were 290/6 but Bruce Yardley and Steve Rixon steered them home.
MAY 2003: ANTIGUA WI bt Aus by 3 wkts
On a ground worked on by staff serving time in a prison whose warden once was Viv Richards’ father, West Indies scored 418, after being 288/6, to win against what was the world’s best side. From being the team against whom the highest fourth innings score was chased—by India (406/4), in 1976—West Indies were now holders of that record. The chase was led by tons from
Shivnarine
Chanderpaul and
Ramnaresh
Sarwan. It is the highest run chase
AUG 2006: COLOMBO SL bt SA by 1 wkt
Trailing by 40 runs in the first innings, Sri Lanka got to the victory target of 352 with only one wicket to spare. Mahela Jayawerdene’s 123, off 248 balls with 11 fours and a six, kept Sri Lanka in the chase. With 11 runs to win, Jayawerdene fell and South Africa sensed a comeback when Chaminda Vaas and Mutthiah Muralitharan were dismissed by Andrew Hall in one over with Sri Lanka still two short. With scores tied, Lasith Malinga hit the winning runs
AUG 2019: HEADINGLY Eng bt Aus by 1 wkt
Just over a month after doing it at Lord’s in a World Cup final, Ben Stokes scripted England’s most successful chase in Test history. This was one for the records: second-highest 10th wicket stand ever between Stokes and Jack Leach; Leach’s contribution was 1 in that 76-run stand. No team had since 1882 scored less in the first innings—england were 67 all out—to win a Test.
When all seemed lost, Stokes, battling injury, resurrected
England’s chase with a 135 that had eight sixes and 11 fours.