Stats: Highest successful run chases in Test Cricket

Vasbert Drakes of the West Indies celebrates the win during day five of the fourth test between the West Indies and Australia

West Indies made the highest successful run chase in Test Cricket when they chased down a record 418 runs against Australia. Now we will take a look at all the run chases in the top 5 list.

Team	Opposition	Score	Venue	Year
West Indies	Australia	418/7	Antigua	2003
South Africa	Australia	414/4	Perth	2008
India	West Indies	406/4	Trinidad	1976
Australia	England	404/3	Leeds	1948
India	England	387/4	Chennai	2008

1. West Indies (418/7)

What’s up with Australia and the run chases? They occupy all the top five spots in ODI Cricket and they hold the first two in Test Cricket as well. Both sides made identical scores of 240 in the first innings and the Aussie openers replied strongly in the second. Despite such a wonderful start, the other batsmen failed, thus making sure the target was 418. From there, it was the Sarwan-Chanderpaul show as they both hit tons to help West Indies set up this record.

2. South Africa (414/4)

Australia on the receiving end again, and this time on their home turf. They made 375 in the first innings, and the proteas in reply made 281. Haddin’s 94 guided Australia to 319, thus setting a target of 414 to win. But what followed was history, as five of the top 6 crossed 50, with Smith and de villiers going on to make 100′s to chase this down.

3. India (406/4)

Sir Viv Richards and Kallicharran made hundreds in the first and second innings respectively and in the end the target was 406. The hopes were not too high since India had made only 228 in the first innings. But Sunny Gavaskar and G Viswanath had other ideas as they guided India to a famous win.

4. Australia (404/3)

This was way back in 1948 in the Ashes. The game saw both sides putting up big totals on the board and eventually Australia had to chase down 404, which they did comfortably with the great Don Bradman remaining unbeaten on 173.

5. India (387/4)

A Test match that had a lot of emotions to it, India scripted a famous win against England by six wickets with Sachin and Yuvraj staying unbeaten on 103 and 85 respectively. Andrew Strauss made 100′s in both innings. The innings was dedicated to the Mumbai terror attack victims by Sachin.

*Stats as on 21 May, 2014