4 times the last batting pair doubled the team score

Trent Boult's career-best 6/32 skittled England out for 58, with their last wicket adding 31

Contributions from part-time bowlers who chip in with useful medium pace or occasional turners, and tailenders who accumulate crucial runs have often defined the state of a match. On most occasions, such moments go a long way in influencing results, or at times, even saving sides from embarrassment.

Sportskeeda looks back at instances when the latter happened, with the tenth wicket adding more runs than all previous nine combined, though the team that did manage to do so ended on the losing side thrice.

#4 Tom Curran and James Anderson: New Zealand vs England, Auckland 2018

Brief Scores: New Zealand 427/8 dec (Nicholls 145*, Williamson 102; Broad 3/78) beat England 58 (Overton 33*; Boult 6/32, Southee 4/25) and 320 (Stokes 66; Astle 3/39, Boult 3/67) by an innings and 49 runs

England were bowled out for 58 in the first session of the maiden day-night Test hosted by New Zealand at Auckland, Trent Boult and Tim Southee having fun with the new ball like a toddler playing with his new toys. At 27/9, the visiting side stared at their lowest Test score - 45 - made against Australia more than a century ago in 1887. Number nine Craig Overton then decided to counter-attack and take England beyond their lowest total.

He whacked 5 fours and a six in a knock of 33*, and added 31 for the final wicket with James Anderson. Finally, Boult, who got a career-best 6/32, removed the latter to finish the England innings for 58 with Southee taking 4/25. New Zealand then hit 427 following centuries from Henry Nicholls and captain Kane Williamson, which proved enough to not bat again. England made 320 in the second essay and lost by an innings and 49 runs.

#3 Phil Hughes and Ashton Agar: England vs Australia, Trent Bridge 2013

Ashton Agar's 98 from number eleven against England in 2013 is still the highest score by a No. 11

Brief Scores: England 215 (Trott 48; Siddle 5/50, Pattinson 3/69) and 375 (Bell 109, Broad 65; Starc 3/81) beat Australia 280 (Agar 98, Hughes 81*; Anderson 5/85) and 296 (Haddin 71, Rogers 52; Anderson 5/73) by 14 runs

The Trent Bridge Test between England and Australia will be remembered for mainly two reasons: Australia's tenth wicket adding 163 in the first innings and local boy Stuart Broad refusing to walk despite edging a ball to slip, a decision which ultimately gave England the game and a 1-0 lead in the series.

Both incidents had one common name in debutant Ashton Agar, who, batting at number eleven in the first innings, ballooned Australia's score from 117/9 to 280 in the company of Phil Hughes.

Agar smashed 98 in quick time – still the highest from that position in Tests – and left the recognised batsman Hughes, who himself scored 81*, in the shadows. The off-spinner hit 12 fours and 2 sixes before being the unfortunate bowler whom Broad denied a wicket after Australia had lost their reviews in the second innings. In the end, England won a close Test by only 14 runs with James Anderson's ten wickets making him the Man of the Match.

#2 Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon: South Africa vs Australia, Cape Town 2011

Australia were 21/9 against South Africa at Cape Town in 2011 before Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon added 26 for the last wicket

Brief Scores: South Africa 96 (Smith 37; Watson 5/17, Harris 4/33) and 236/2 (Amla 112, Smith 101*; Siddle 1/49) beat Australia 284 (Clarke 151; Steyn 4/55, Philander 3/63) and 47 (Lyon 14; Philander 5/15, Morkel 3/9) by 8 wickets

In an epic Test match that lasted merely three days, Australia were threatened to be bowled out for the lowest ever team total against South Africa at Cape Town in 2011. After skittling out the hosts for 96 in the first innings courtesy a dream spell of 5/17 from Shane Watson, the visiting side slumped to an astonishing 21/9 inside the twelfth over.

Debutant Vernon Philander, who had already scalped three wickets in the first innings, bagged 5/15 with the ball dancing around either way to bamboozle one Australian batsman after another. But the final pair of Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon not only negotiated a rampaging Philander, Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn, but also the lowest Test total of 26 by New Zealand way back in 1955. The duo added 26 themselves before Australia folded up for 47, ending up wasting their first innings lead of 188 to lose the Test by 8 wickets, South Africa easily hunting down 236.

#1 Peter Willey and Bob Willis: England vs West Indies, The Oval 1980

Peter Willey hit 100* and added 117 with Bob Willis against West Indies at The Oval in 1980

Brief Scores: England 370 (Gooch 83; Croft 3/97, Garner 2/67) and 209/9 dec (Willey 100*; Holding 4/79, Garner 3/24) drew with West Indies 265 (Bacchus 61; Dilley 4/57, Emburey 2/38)

In the fourth Test of West Indies' tour of England in 1980, the hosts posted 370 batting first – the top three hit half-centuries with a highest of 83 from Graham Gooch – in whose reply the visitors fell behind with only 265 on the board as Graham Dilley bagged 4/57. With a first-innings lead of 105 in the bag, England aimed at setting a daunting target for West Indies, but suffered a big collapse with the big figure of Michael Holding leading the way with the ball.

In the company of Colin Croft and Joel Garner, Holding – who finished with 4/79 – reduced England to 92/9.

But tailenders Peter Willey and Bob Willis were not going to give up against the great bowling attack. The pair added 117 unbeaten runs and frustrated the West Indies bowlers with Willey ending on 100* and number eleven Willis contributing 24*. England got to 209/9, after which they declared and the match finished in a draw. Eventually, West Indies won the five-match series 1-0 courtesy of a victory in the first Test.