5 biggest overs in Test cricket in terms of maximum runs scored off one over

Modified Sep 26, 2016 12:19 IST

Mccullum was in an aggressive mood throughout the match

#1 28 runs (Robin Peterson to Brian Lara – 120^th over)

West Indies tour of South Africa, 1^st Test, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2003-04

Lara scored a superb double hundred for his side

There was not much to cheer for the West Indies team when they toured South Africa in 2003 for a four-match Test series. Brian Lara’s batting throughout the series turned out to be the lone high point for them as they were thrashed 3-0 in the four-match Test series.

Throughout the series, South Africa’s batsmen tormented the opposition bowlers, as multiple centuries were scored amongst the top order batsmen of South Africa. Their bowlers performed well too, as they did not allow the West Indies batsman to settle down at the crease.

The first Test at Johannesburg was just the trailer of what West Indies were to expect for the rest of the series. After opting to bat first, South Africa reached a majestic total of 561, thanks to brilliant centuries by Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis.

In their reply, the West Indies batsmen responded decently well, but were not at the level of South Africa’s batsmen. They were bowled out for 410 led by a superb double hundred by Brian Lara. Unfortunately, he did not have much support at the other end as Darren Ganga was the only other batsman to score a half-century.

During his superb knock, Brian Lara decided to take things a little quick just after crossing the 150 run mark. Robin Peterson was brought back into the attack in the hope of getting the maestro out, but Lara had other ideas in mind for the slow left-arm orthodox bowler. Taking the attack to Peterson, Lara smashed a record-breaking 28 runs in a single over by hitting 4 fours and 2 humongous sixes.

That particular over by Lara turned out to be the biggest over in test cricket at that time in terms of the number of runs scored. Unfortunately for the West Indies, he was soon dismissed after that, and the team soon lost their way as South Africa won the test match by 189 runs.