Highest 4th Innings Successful Chases In Tests In Johannesburg

India have set a 240-run target for South Africa to win the second Test at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara carried on their aggressive style of batting on the third day of the second Test.

The duo batted aggressively and scored runs at a decent rate in the first hour. Both the batsmen brought up their respective half-centuries and took India to a good position in the match. However, wickets fell in quick succession once the partnership was broken in the 35th over.

Hanuma Vihari too played an outstanding knock in tough conditions. He held firm at one end while wickets kept falling at the other. Vihari scored some valuable runs at the fag end of the innings and stayed unbeaten on 40 off 84 balls. India eventually scored 266 runs in the third innings and set a target of 240 runs to win the match.

Given how the pitch is behaving, South Africa does have a mountain to climb. The Proteas need to bat their skins out to chase down the score and level the series. If South Africa manage to chase down the score, then it will be the third-highest successful run chase at The Wanderers stadium.

The teams have managed to chase down in access of 240 in Test Cricket only twice at this very ground. Nevertheless, let’s take a look four highest 4^th innings successful chases in Johannesburg.

Highest 4th Innings Successful Chases In Tests In Johannesburg

4. 164/6 by SA v West Indies in November 1999

South Africa recorded the fourth-highest 4^th innings successful chase in Johannesburg in 1999. The first Test between West Indies and South Africa at Johannesburg in 1998 was a gripping contest. West Indies notched 261 runs in the first innings and South Africa, in reply, managed to score 268 runs in the second innings.

Shaun Pollock starred with the ball in the third innings, picking 4 for 49. And, as a result of that, West Indies were bundled out for 170 runs. South Africa needed 164 runs in the fourth innings to win the match.

It wasn’t an easy track on the bouncy surface of Johannesburg. South Africa lost wickets at regular intervals in pursuit of the total, however, Jacques Kallis stood firm at one end. He played an unbeaten match-winning 57-run knock off 152 balls to help his team chase down the score with 4 four wickets remaining.

3. 220/6 by SA v NZ in May 2006

South Africa chased down the third-highest fourth innings total at Johannesburg against New Zealand in 2006.  M Ntini gave the team a dream start with the ball as he picked 5 for 35 runs. His fiery spell led to New Zealand getting bowled out for just 119 runs in the first innings. South Africa’s middle-order too fell like a pack of cards, however, they still managed to score 186 runs in the second innings, thanks to vital knocks from G Smith (63 off 63) and H Amla (56 off 92).

In contrast to their first innings, New Zealand batted with a lot more application in their second innings. The Blackcaps posted 283 runs and set a target of 220 runs for South Africa to chase down. South Africa needed a solid start to chase down the score and skipper G Smith (68) and H Dippenaar (37) gave the team just that.

Later, A Prince carried the team home with an unbeaten 43 off 60 deliveries. South Africa chased down the score with 4 wickets in hand.

2. 294/8 by Australia against South Africa in 2006

Australia holds the record for the second-highest successful fourth-innings chase against South Africa in 2006. The Australian Cricket Team tormented South Africa in the three-match Test series in 2006. They won the first two Tests to seal the series 2-0. The third Test was played at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Batting first, South Africa scored a formidable 303-run total in the first innings.

Australia, in reply, managed to score 270 runs in the second innings. South Africa, in their second innings, managed to score 258 runs in the third innings, to set Australia a target of 294 runs. Australia batted with great grit and aggression. Michael Hussey scored 89 off 197, while Damien Martin scored 101 off 208. Those vital contributions helped the team chase down the score with 2 wickets in hand.

1. 310/8 by Australia vs SA in November 2011

Australia were trailing by 1-0 in the two-match Test series in South Africa in 2011. The two and the final Test was played at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. South Africa, batting first, posted 266 in 71 overs. AB de Villiers (64), J Kallis (54), and A Prince (50) all played vital knocks with the bat.

Australia too started strongly. Shane Watson (88 off 140) and Phillip Hughes (88 off 111) gave the team a strong start with the bat. However, there weren’t any substantial contributions from the players thereafter and, Australia, as a result, managed 296 runs in the second innings.

Hashim Amla played a gem of a knock thereafter as he notched 105 off 243. AB de Villiers too played a wonderful 73-run knock to guide the team to 339 runs in the third innings. Australia, thus, were given a formidable total of 310 runs in the fourth innings to chase down. The Aussies, however, stunned everyone as they managed to chase down the score with 2 wickets remaining.

Usman Khawaja (65 off 110), Ricky Ponting (62 off 138) made vital contributions in the middle-order. Later, Michael Hussey (39 off 77), Brad Haddin (55 off 106), and Mitchell Johnson (40 off 47) made substantial contributions with the bat to chase down a record total and write their name in the history books.