10 Amazing Run Chases in Test Match History
Test cricket has produced some epic matches in its time. From nerve-wrecking draws to sheer bowling destruction, everyone has their preference to what they think “epic” is.
Wednesday marks the 12-year anniversary of the West Indies completing the highest-ever run chase in Test history, a record which stands to this day.
In memory of the epic chase, we’ve picked 10 amazing chases in the history of the game. They are put here in no particular order. Add your favourites in the comments.
10. England vs Australia, Leeds 2001
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It turned out to be the only Test England would win in the 2001 Ashes series, but it deserves a mention as the third-fastest 300-plus chase in Tests.
After Australia had piled on 447 in their first innings, it looked like England would be set for more of the same. They responded with 309, with only Alec Stewart managing a half-century.
Australia made a somewhat bold declaration in the second innings, calling their innings closed on 176-4, clearly in search of a result. With two days remaining in the match, Australia obviously thought they could defend the 300-plus target, but Mark Butcher had other ideas. He hit an unbeaten 173 off 227 balls to help England win in just over 73 overs, the only positive of that disastrous series.
9. Australia vs. South Africa, Cape Town 2002
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Australia have completed some epic chases in their time, including 404 against England in 1948, 369 against Pakistan in 1999 and 342 against India in 1977, among others. But this specific chase makes it into the list because it is also one of the fastest 300-plus chases in the history of the game.
Graeme Smith's Test debut got off to a shaky start, with South Africa stumbling to 239 all out after electing to bat at Newlands and Australia responded with 382 in their first innings. The hosts fought back in the second innings with 473 runs, but Australia had two days to try to get the total. An unbeaten century from Ricky Ponting and a steady 96 from Matthew Hayden saw them chase down the target in 79.1 overs and win by four wickets.
South Africa would return the favour of a tense chase in the next Test in Durban, when they won by five wickets in pursuit of 340, but lost the series 2-1.
8. England vs. Australia, Trent Bridge 2005
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Okay, so this doesn't fall into the category of BIG run-chases, but it does fall under epic. To this day, the 2005 Ashes series is widely regarded as one of the best series ever and England took the lead at Trent Bridge in an epic chase.
After notching up 477 in their first innings and restricting Australia to 218 and 387, England needed just 129 for victory, but they didn't make it easy for themselves.
They stuttered to 57-3 and then 116-7 as Brett Lee and Shane Warne rattled through the batsmen, but the hosts managed to hold their nerve and come out top.
7. Sri Lanka vs. South Africa, Colombo 2006
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After Sri Lanka hammered South Africa in the first Test with an innings and 153-run win, the visitors were desperate to fight back. South Africa managed 361 in the first innings and Sri Lanka responded with 321.
The visitors knuckled down for 311 in their second innings and would have been confident of at least salvaging a draw. Sri Lanka pottered to 201-5 and South Africa must have thought they had it in the bag, but a Mahela Jayawardene special helped take Sri Lanka to within a whisker of the total, leaving the tail needing just over 10 runs to get. They got there with just one wicket left, crushing South Africa’s spirits in the process.
6. West Indies vs. England, Lord's 1984
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Following on from Pakistan's bish-bash-bosh effort, the West Indies hold the record for the second-fastest ever 300-plus chase and they did so by losing just one wicket. A lesson in batting from Gordon Greenidge, who hit an unbeaten 214 off 242 balls, supported by Larry Gomes' 92 off 140, helped the Windies score 344 runs in just 66.1 overs.
That might seem like an easy feat these days, but wickets were much different back then and it is worth mentioning because in all of the other three innings of this Test, a team was either completely dismissed or nine wickets down.
5. India vs. West Indies, Trinidad 1976
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Back in the 1970s, the West Indies were one of the most fearsome teams around. With Sir Vivian Richards lurking in the batting lineup alongside Clive Lloyd, and Michael Holding in charge of the bowling attack, no team who toured there went there without fear.
But the Indian team of the 1976 tour managed to achieve something remarkable, by completing the highest-ever run chase at the time. The Windies managed 359 in their first innings and India responded by posting 228.
The hosts struggled a bit in their second innings and managed to add just 271, but with over 400 runs needed, it was surely enough to secure a victory? Not so. A century at the top of the order from Sunil Gavaskar and a middle-order ton from Gundappa Viswanath helped steer India to a memorable and epic chase.
4. Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka, Sharjah 2014
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As far as amazing and epic goes, this one is right up there. Pakistan needed 302 runs in just two sessions against Sri Lanka last year.
A 109-run stand between Azhar Ali (103) and Misbah-ul-Haq (68*) helped Pakistan over the line, winning with 1.3 overs still to spare. It was the fastest 300-plus score chased down in the history of Test cricket.
3. India vs England, Chennai 2008
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December 2008 was a good month for good chases with India completing their second-highest run chase against England in Chennai.
Resuming the fifth and final day on 131-1 in pursuit of 387. Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag had set the foundation for Sachin Tendulkar, with an unbeaten ton, and Yuvraj Singh (85*) to finish off the job.
2. South Africa vs. Australia, Perth 2008
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South Africa's chase in the first Test against Australia in 2008 is still regarded as one of the most epic in cricket history.
Needing over 400 runs to secure a win and draw first blood, South Africa completed an epic chase on Days 4 and 5.
With a hundred apiece from Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers, as well as contributions from Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and JP Duminy, South Africa completed one of the most memorable wins in their cricketing history.
1. West Indies vs. Australia, Antigua 2003
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It remains the highest Test run chase to date and it was inspired by impressive knocks by Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who both hit hundreds.
West Indies notched up 418 to secure a three-wicket victory against Australia back in 2003. Not even the fearsome Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie could stifle the Windies' spirit on that day.
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