Highest 5th Day Run Chases in Test Cricket
In the five-day theatre of Test cricket, the final act is often the most compelling. A run chase on the fifth day, with a worn pitch, immense mental pressure, and time as an adversary, is the ultimate test of a team’s character, skill, and collective belief. These are not just victories; they are legends carved into the annals of cricket folklore.
The highest 5th day run chases in Test cricket are legendary stories of skill and bravery. These are the unforgettable matches where teams batted on crumbling pitches, facing impossible odds to achieve a famous victory. This list chronicles the top five times a team defied pressure and time to win on the final day, earning their place in history.
Highest 5th Day Run Chases in Test Cricket
Here are the five highest totals successfully chased on the final day of a Test match, backed by verified scorecards and historical data.
1. Australia’s ‘Invincible’ Feat: 404 vs England, Leeds, 1948
- Runs Chased on Day 5: 404
- Final Score: 404/3
- Key Performers: Arthur Morris (182), Sir Donald Bradman (173*)
The greatest final-day run chase ever belongs to Australia’s super team from 1948, known as “The Invincibles.” To win the match against England, their mission was to score a massive 404 runs on the very last day of the game.
The English bowlers felt confident that this target was impossible to reach. But they were wrong! Two Australian heroes put on a masterclass at the crease. A batsman named Arthur Morris hit a fantastic score of 182. He was joined by the legend, Sir Donald Bradman, who guided the team with a brilliant 173 runs. Bradman was “unbeaten,” which means the bowlers couldn’t get him out!
Together, this amazing pair put on a huge partnership, scoring 301 runs between them. The Australian side comfortably chased down all 404 runs on that final day, winning the game while only losing three wickets. For over 75 years, this incredible performance has been the number one record for a 5th-day victory in Test cricket..
2. West Indies’ Lord’s Conquest: 342 vs England, 1984
- Runs Chased on Day 5: 342
- Final Score: 344/1
- Key Performers: Gordon Greenidge (214*), Larry Gomes (92*)
In the 1980s, the West Indies team ruled the world of cricket. They showed just how powerful they were during a special match at Lord’s, the famous ‘Home of Cricket’.
On the final day of the game, England gave them a huge challenge. They set a target of 342 runs for the West Indies batsmen to chase down and win.
But this giant target didn’t worry the West Indies. Their opening batsman, Gordon Greenidge, decided to take full control of the game. He fearlessly smashed the cricket ball all over the field and scored an incredible 214 runs. The English bowlers tried everything, but they just couldn’t get him out, so he finished his innings “not out”!
With steady help from his teammate Larry Gomes, Greenidge guided his side to a stunning nine-wicket victory. They knocked off all the runs very quickly, showing everyone why they were true champions.
3. India’s ‘Fortress Gabba’ Breach: 325 vs Australia, 2021
- Runs Chased on Day 5: 325
- Final Score: 329/7
- Key Performers: Rishabh Pant (89*), Shubman Gill (91), Cheteshwar Pujara (56)
This next story is about a match that many people call one of the greatest ever. The Indian team was full of new players because many of their stars were injured. They had to do something that seemed impossible.
Their mission was to win a match at a ground called the Gabba in Australia. The Australian team had not lost a single game there in 32 years! It was known as their fortress. On the final day, the Indian team needed to chase down 325 runs to win, a feat that would go down as one of the highest run chases in Test by India.
Three different heroes stepped up to make it happen. First, a stylish young batsman named Shubman Gill played beautifully and scored 91 runs to give India a great start. Next, the super-brave Cheteshwar Pujara stood like a wall at the crease.
He let the fast cricket balls hit him on the body but he refused to give his wicket away. Finally, the fearless Rishabh Pant came in and decided to attack. He wasn’t scared at all and started hitting the Australian bowlers all around the ground.
His exciting, quick-scoring innings of 89 runs at the very end won the game for India. By winning the match, they also won the entire series and had finally broken the fortress.
4. (Tie) Australia’s Gritty Stand: 317 vs India, Perth, 1977
- Runs Chased on Day 5: 317
- Final Score: 342/8
- Key Performers: Tony Mann (105), Peter Toohey (83)
This story takes us to a famous Australian cricket ground called the WACA, which was known for its super fast and bouncy pitch. It was a tricky place for batsmen to play.
The Australian team was facing a talented Indian side. On the final day, Australia had a big mission ahead of them: they needed to score 317 runs to win the whole match.
The hero for Australia came as a big surprise. His name was Tony Mann, and he was a “nightwatchman.” A nightwatchman’s main job is usually just to protect the star batsmen, not to score a lot of runs himself. But on this day, Tony Mann played like a superstar! He bravely attacked the bowlers and scored an amazing 105 runs.
He built a very important partnership with his teammate Peter Toohey, which took Australia close to victory. Things got a bit scary near the end as some batsmen got out, but the team stayed calm. They finally won the thrilling game with just two wickets left, making it a classic, close finish!
4. (Tie) West Indies’ Headingley Redemption: 317 vs England, 2017
- Runs Chased on Day 5: 317
- Final Score: 322/5
- Key Performers: Shai Hope (118*), Kraigg Brathwaite (95)
This final story is about one of the greatest comebacks in cricket. A young West Indies team had just lost their previous game very badly, so nobody expected them to win this time. They faced a huge challenge: to chase down 322 runs against England at a famous ground called Headingley.
On the last day, they still needed 317 runs to win. But two batsmen stood up to fight for their team. The opener, Kraigg Brathwaite, showed great courage and scored 95 runs. The main hero, however, was a player named Shai Hope.
Shai Hope calmly and cleverly batted his way to 118 runs. He stayed at the crease until the very end and was “not out.” He also made history that day! In all the years of cricket at Headingley, no player had ever scored a century (100+ runs) in the first innings AND another century in the second innings of the same match. Shai Hope was the first to ever do it!
Because of these two brave players, the West Indies team won the match with five wickets to spare. This shocking and exciting victory was celebrated by cricket fans all over the world.
Clarifying a Common Myth: The Highest 4th Innings Chase
It’s important to know that there’s a difference between two types of records in cricket. One is the “highest 4th innings chase,” and the other is the “highest 5th-day chase.”
The world record for the highest chase ever in the 4th innings belongs to the West Indies. In 2003, they amazingly chased down 418 runs to beat Australia. This is the biggest score any team has ever chased to win a Test match.
However, they didn’t score all of those runs on the final day. They started their chase on the evening of Day 4 and scored 128 runs. This means they only needed to score the other 290 runs on the 5th and final day. While scoring 290 runs on the last day is incredible, it’s not as many as the other teams on our main list scored in a single day to win.
Conclusion
These five matches represent more than just statistics; they are epic tales of resilience, courage, and supreme skill under the most intense pressure. They serve as a timeless reminder that in Test cricket, no matter how dire the circumstances, the match is never over until the final ball is bowled. The ability to conquer a crumbling pitch and a ticking clock on the final day is what separates the great teams from the immortal ones.
