5 highest 4th innings totals that didn't result in a Test win 

For all the thrill around Twenty20, it is but fleeting. For all the drama which ensues during the 40 overs, it feels rather incomplete and few might say even shallow.

Perhaps, this is the reason why Test cricket is still the pinnacle, perhaps this is why it is the purest form, it is the format where the players want to test their mettle.

Test cricket throws different challenges at you, and how you react defines the character. Talking about character, what makes this format immune to all the impurity which is taking place elsewhere is that over the five days, there are so many changes to the context of the game, that it can easily be compared to life.

On a pitch which is perhaps at his most weary in the fourth innings, scoring runs is no meek play and this why runs in the fourth innings are considered to be not only tough but also in many ways is match-winning.

However, despite all the efforts, despite accumulating a relatively high score, teams have not tasted success and here in this slider, we take a look at five such instances when high scores in the fourth innings were not enough to warrant success.

#5 New Zealand vs England, 2008

Back in 2008, England toured New Zealand and this particular match was the third Test played out at Napier.

England won the toss and elected to bat first on a track which looked a proper belter. On the back of a stellar century by Kevin Pietersen, the visitors posted 253 runs in their first innings.

The hosts replied with a lot of jitters as left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom wreaked havoc and picked up seven wickets to dismantle New Zealand for a paltry 168 runs.

England responded with a lot of positivity in their second essay as Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell scored centuries to push the total to 467/7 when captain Michael Vaughan declared the innings.

It was a steep mountain to climb for the hosts as they began the chase of 553 runs. It was a stellar effort from the Kiwis as five of their batsmen cross the 50-run mark, but bereft of any century they were dismissed for 431 in their final innings.

England won the match by a convincing margin of 121 runs.

#4 New Zealand vs England, Nottingham 1973

Yes, another high scoring affair, another spirited performance from New Zealand, another heartbreak, another match usurped by England.

New Zealand toured England and faced off against the hosts in the first Test match at Trent Bridge.

England won the toss and elected to bat first. However, frequent loss of wickets meant that the hosts could only manage 250 runs in their first innings.

However, New Zealand were far more miserable in their approach as John Snow, Geoff Arnold, and Tony Greig shot them out for a mere 97 runs.

Dennis Amiss and Tony Greig scored defiant centuries as England posted 325 runs in their second dig.

Chasing a target of 479 runs, the visitors were more resolute in their approach as captain Bevan Congdon and Vic Pollard scored centuries, but there was no support from any other batsmen and the Kiwis lost steam in their chase.

They eventually fell short by 38 runs.

#3 India vs Australia, Adelaide 1978

This series was all about Bob Simpson, his captaincy and his dexterity in playing spin bowling.

However, this particular Test match will always be known for the fearsome bowling dished out by one Jeff Thompson.

It all started in the first innings when led by captain Simpson, Australia accumulated 505 runs.

And then India responded quite meekly with a paltry score of 269 runs.

The hosts rode on the momentum and despite being dismissed for 256 runs in their second innings, they set the visitors a target of 493 runs on a weary Adelaide surface.

India showed dogged spirit with their own innings and as many as four batsmen crossed the 50-run mark. But, there was not one defining innings which could lead them to the win as they fell short of the target by 47 runs.

#2 Pakistan vs Australia, Brisbane 2017

Pink ball, floodlights, pacy pitch and the excitement of Test cricket, it all combined to produce an epic in Brisbane when Australia took on Pakistan.

Steve Smith and Peter Handscomb scored centuries as the hosts piled up 429 runs in their first innings.

Disaster then ensued as Pakistan were shot out for 142.

Australia did not impose the follow-on and decided to rub in more misery and when they declared their innings at 202/5, Pakistan were set a target of 490 runs.

At 220 for six, even the optimistic of fans would have walked away in disgust, but there was Asad Shafiq unmoved and determined to not throw in the towel.

The right-hander decided to play his strokes and take the attack to the opposition and in Wahab Riaz and Mohammed Amir he found two allies who were willing to stick with him.

However, the lone ranger could not script a heist as he was dismissed for an epic 137 and Pakistan folded for 450.

#1 New Zealand vs England, Christchurch 2002

Well, it might not attract headlines which are bestowed upon the Ashes, but the series between New Zealand and England have always been able to produce humdingers.

This particular match was played in Christchurch back in 2002 when England batted first and scored 228 runs.

New Zealand too responded quite meekly and were bundled out for 147 runs.

In the second innings, Graham Thorpe scored an unbeaten 200 which led England to 468 when they declared their innings.

The hosts were on the mat once again 300 for 7 when Nathan Astle blew the bugle and decided to carve the English bowling attack all over the place.

Such was the audacity of the stroke play that the visitors looked like headless chickens scooting across the field without an idea of what hit them.

Astle smashed 222 off 168 balls and when he was eventually dismissed, New Zealand fell short of England’s score by 98 runs.

451 runs were scored in the second innings and Nathan Astle scored almost half the runs with sublime stroke play.