Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey
There has only been one successful run chase in Test cricket at Kensington Oval in Barbados. We’d have to go back to 1999 for one of the greatest innings in Test history – Brian Lara’s 153 not out which led the West Indies to a successful chase of 308 with just one wicket in hand against Australia.
West Indies collapsed to 105/5 and 248/8 in that game, before Lara and Curtly Ambrose (12 off 39 balls) took the hosts to 302/9. Courtney Walsh, one of the more famous number elevens in history, successfully negotiated five deliveries before Lara hit the winning runs with a trademark cover drive to spark scenes of joy.
One successful run chase in Tests at Kensington oval Barbados
While the West Indies’ chase in 1999 remains the only successful run chase in Tests on this ground, there have been two bigger scores in the fourth innings.
West Indies struck 387 batting fourth against Australia in 2008. However, the Australians won by 87 runs despite the Windies sitting very pretty at 307/3 chasing 475 at one point. Simon Katich was man of the match with scores of 36 and 157.
The other bigger total batting last was 313 by England way back in 1954. Chasing 495 for victory, Len Hutton (77), Peter May (62), Denis Compton (93) and Tom Graveney (64*) all crossed 50. However, no other player made more than five in one of the more unique scorecards in Test cricket.
West Indies have a great chance to become the second team to chase a target at Barbados in the 2025 Test against Australia. The visitors ended day two on 92/4, leading by 82 on a tricky surface.
