India to Australia: Highest successful run chase in Test cricket history

The highest successful run chase in Test for India is when they beat West Indies with 6 wickets while chasing 406 in 1976

Test cricket is often considered as the most important format in cricket by fans. The five days of battle allows teams to have multiple chances of comebacks in the match, despite trailing behind for a good amount of time in the game. One of the toughest aspects of Test cricket is chasing a big total in the fourth innings of the game, which is usually considered as the toughest time to bat for any team. However, there are multiple instances where teams have surprised their opponents by chasing down a mountain of a total to emerge victorious in the game. Here is the list of top instances where teams chased down the impossible totals to win the match. 

 

Highest successful run chase in Test cricket history

Rank	Team	Against	Target	Date	Venue
1	West Indies	Australia	418	09-05-2003	Antigua Recreation Ground
2	South Africa	Australia	414	17-12-2008	WACA Ground
3	Australia	England	404	22-07-1948	Headingley
4	India	West Indies	403	07-04-1976	> Queen's Park Oval
5	West Indies	Bangladesh	395	03-02-2021	Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium
6	Sri Lanka	Zimbabwe	388	14-07-2017	R Premadasa Stadium
7	India	England	387	11-12-2008	MA Chidambaram Stadium
8	England	India	378	01-07-2022	Edgbaston
9	Pakistan	Sri Lanka	377	03-07-2015	Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
10	Australia	Pakistan	369	18-11-1999	Bellerive Oval
11	Australia	West Indies	359	31-03-1978	Bourda
12	England	Australia	359	22-08-2019	Headingley
13	Sri Lanka	South Africa	352	04-08-2006	P Sara Oval
14	West Indies	New Zealand	345	27-02-1969	Eden Park
15	West Indies	England	342	28-06-1984	Lord's
16	Pakistan	Sri Lanka	342	16-07-2022	Galle International Stadium
17	Australia	India	339	16-12-1977	WACA Ground
18	Australia	South Africa	336	20-01-1950	Kingsmead
19	South Africa	Australia	335	15-03-2002	Kingsmead
20	England	Australia	332	29-12-1928	Melbourne Cricket Ground
21	Australia	South Africa	331	08-03-2002	Newlands
22	India	Australia	328	15-01-2021	Brisbane Cricket Ground
23	Sri Lanka	Zimbabwe	326	14-01-1998	Sinhalese Sports Club Ground
24	New Zealand	Pakistan	324	24-02-1994	AMI Stadium
25	West Indies	England	322	25-08-2017	Headingley
26	West Indies	Pakistan	317	13-03-1958	Bourda
27	New Zealand	Bangladesh	317	17-10-2008	Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium
28	Australia	England	315	17-01-1902	Adelaide Oval
29	England	Australia	315	16-08-2001	Headingley
30	Pakistan	Australia	314	28-09-1994	National Stadium (Karachi)
31	Australia	South Africa	310	17-11-2011	Wanderers Stadium
32	West Indies	Australia	308	26-03-1999	Kensington Oval
33	Australia	Bangladesh	307	09-04-2006	Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium
34	England	New Zealand	305	14-02-1997	AMI Stadium
35	Sri Lanka	South Africa	304	13-02-2019	Kingsmead
36	Pakistan	Sri Lanka	302	16-01-2014	Sharjah Cricket Stadium
37	England	New Zealand	299	10-06-2022	Trent Bridge
38	England	Australia	297	01/03/1895	Melbourne Cricket Ground
39	England	New Zealand	296	23-06-2022	Headingley
40	South Africa	Australia	295	06-02-1953	Melbourne Cricket Ground
41	England	New Zealand	294	23-05-2008	Old Trafford
42	Australia	South Africa	292	31-03-2006	Wanderers Stadium
43	Australia	South Africa	287	02-01-2006	Sydney Cricket Ground
44	Australia	England	286	08-03-1929	Melbourne Cricket Ground
45	New Zealand	Sri Lanka	285	09-03-2023	Hagley Oval
46	South Africa	England	284	02-01-1906	Old Wanderers
47	England	New Zealand	284	10-06-2004	Trent Bridge
48	England	Australia	282	01-01-1908	Melbourne Cricket Ground
49	West Indies	England	282	05-02-1998	Queen's Park Oval
50	England	New Zealand	282	20-05-2004	Lord's

Top 10 highest successful run chase in Test cricket

1. West Indies vs Australia (St John's, 2003) – 418 runs

 

The record for the highest successful run chase in Test cricket belongs to the West Indies cricket team, who chased down 418 runs against Australia at St John's in 2003. Led by Brian Lara's magnificent 153, the Windies defied all odds to secure a stunning three wickets win against the Aussies.

 

2. South Africa vs Australia (Perth, 2008) – 414 runs

 

The team with the highest successful run chase in ODIs, also holds the record for the second highest successful run chase in Tests and that too against the same team. South Africa chased down the total of 414 runs against Australia in Perth, 2008, to win the game by 6 wickets. Graeme Smith (115) and Hashim Amla (103) were the backbone of Proteas during the chase.

 

3. India vs West Indies (Port of Spain, 1976) – 406 runs

 

India's 406-run chase against the West Indies in Port of Spain, 1976, was a historical achievement, as they did it against one of the most dominant teams in the history of cricket.. Sunil Gavaskar's 101 and Gundappa Viswanath's 97 helped India secure a memorable win.

 

4. Australia vs England (Leeds, 1948) – 404 runs

 

While Australia often finds themselves on the receiving end of these historic chases, there was a moment where they were on the giving end when they beat England in a historic chase. Don Bradman's unbeaten 270 was the highlight of Australia's 404-run chase against England at Leeds in 1948. This innings cemented Bradman's legendary status and to this date remains one of the greatest individual knocks in history of Test cricket.

 

5. West Indies vs Bangladesh (Chattogram, 2021) – 395 runs

 

The current West Indies team are nothing like what they used to be in Test cricket, but they tapped into their past in 2021 against Bangladesh to record another historic chase under their name. Kyle Mayers' sensational double century helped the West Indies chase 395 runs against Bangladesh in Chattogram.

 

6. Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe (Colombo, 2017)- 391 runs

 

Sri Lanka made their highest successful run chase and sixth highest overall, when they beat Zimbabwe by 4 wickets while chasing 391 runs in their home Test at Colombo in 2017.  

 

 

7. India vs England (Chennai, 2008) – 387 runs

 

Sachin Tendulkar's unbeaten century and half-centuries from Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh in the fourth innings helped India chase 387 runs against England in Chennai, 2008. This was the second highest successful run chase in India at the time.

 

8. Pakistan vs Sri Lanka (Pallekele, 2015)- 382 runs

 

Pakistan recorded their highest successful run chase in Test cricket history when they chased down 382 runs target against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in 2015. Younus Khan 171 not-out was Pakistan’s star in the match.

 

9. England vs India (Birmingham, 2022) – 378 runs

 

Engalnd recorded the ninth highest successful run-chase in history of Test cricket when they chased down the 378 runs target set by India in Birmingham in 2022. Unbeaten tons from Joe Root and Jonny Bairstwo helped England secure the win.

 

10. Australia vs Pakistan (Hobart, 1999)- 369 runs

 

Australia’s 4 wickets win against Pakistan while chasing 369 runs at Hobart in 1999 is the tenth highest successful run chase in Test cricket overall. Justin Langer with 59 in first innings and 127 in second innings was Australia's hero in the match.