5 thrilling draws in Test cricket

Zimbabwe vs England, Dec 1996

Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

A dejected Nick Knight walks off at the end of Test cricket's first instance of a match drawn with scores level.

India’s thrilling last-ball draw against the Windies at Wankhede was the second instance of a Test drawn with scores level. The first of its kind came in this 1996 Test between England and Zimbabwe, the first ever Test between the two sides.

Centuries from the Zimbabwean wicketkeeper-batsman Andy Flower and England’s Nasser Hussain and John Crawley saw both teams matching each other in the first innings with totals of 376 and 406 respectively.

Zimbabwe was then shot out for 234 in their second essay, leaving England to go for 205 in 37 overs on the final day. In spite of Zimbabwe’s negative tactics of bowling way outside the stumps, England played boldly and were cruising at more than 5 runs per over.

The final over started with England requiring 13 runs to clinch victory. With just five wickets down and opener Nick Knight on an unbeaten 84, England were well on course to win before the strange turn.

A dot ball, a scampered two off the second delivery and Knight smashed Heath Streak over mid-wicket for a much-needed six. Two more came off the penultimate ball and now three were needed to win off the final delivery. Knight hit to deep cover and ran two before setting off for a non-existent third run in pursuit of victory and ending up well short.