Last Updated on 4 years ago by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: 300+ scores in the 4th innings since the start of 2021 | How many 300+ scores have there been in the 4th innings?
An inherent need is being felt across the cricketing community to make Test matches more proactive and result-oriented.
Teams have been gradually undertaking a more proactive approach to keep up with the changing demands of the modern times. Sides are possibly looking at Tests from the lens of the limited-overs cricket.
“Sometimes teams will be better than us, but no one will be braver than us,” England skipper Ben Stokes had said after his team chased down a mammoth 378 runs in the fourth innings vs India at Edgbaston.
List of 300+ scores in 4th innings since start of 2021
Teams are gradually looking at challenging fourth-innings totals from a more positive perspective. On that note, CricBlog takes a look at all the successful 300+ run-chases in Test cricket since the start of 2021.
443/7 by Pakistan vs Australia, Karachi, 2022
Pakistan and Australia battled hard to produce an all-time classic at the National Stadium in Karachi earlier this year. Pat Cummins’ men had dominated the first innings by putting up 556 with the bat and then folding up the home team for merely 148 runs in their first innings. Australia eventually gave Pakistan a target of 506.
However, centuries by Babar Azam (196) and Mohammed Rizwan (104*) ensured that the home side played out 171.4 overs to score 443 runs at the loss of seven wickets. Abdullah Shafique had played an immense role in tiring the Australian bowlers with his tenacious effort of 96 runs off 305 deliveries. The visitors toiled hard but Azam and Rizwan’s defiance saved the day for the home team.
395/7 by West Indies vs Bangladesh, Chattogram, 2021
Kyle Mayers had a debut for the ages as West Indies sealed an incredible victory against Bangladesh at Chattogram in February 2021. The southpaw scored 210* in the fourth innings to help the men from Caribbean chase down 395/7.
Mayers blunted the Bangladeshi bowling unit with some trademark flair and resistance. He notched 20 boundaries and seven sixes in an innings where he took the attack to the opposition whilst batting at a strike rate of 67.74. Nkrumah Bonner played a fine hand with his 86-run knock but Mayers rightly attracted all the spotlight due to his immense temperament of staying at the crease until the end to take his team past the finishing line.
378/3 by England vs India, Edgbaston, 2022
England had the herculean task of getting to their highest-ever fourth-innings total to prevent India from securing their first Test series victory in English shores in 15 years. Buoyed by the exuberance of ‘Bazball’, the duo of Joe Root (142*) and Jonny Bairstow (114*) swept away Indian hopes as they counter-attacked to perfection to win the game for Stokes’ side.
The duo partnered for 52.3 overs to put up 269 runs as they made light work of a seriously skilful Indian bowling unit. Both Root and Bairstow thus extended their run of imperious form as they look set to further the exciting outlook that head coach Brendon McCullum has brought to the English Test setup.
344/6 by Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Galle, 2022
Pakistani opener Abdullah Shafique displayed tremendous character to score an unbeaten 160 runs off 408 deliveries to steer his team to a remarkable Test victory at Galle on Wednesday. The stadium has been notorious for being extremely hostile for teams batting second. A score over 200 had been chased successfully merely once before fantastic feat by the Pakistani team.
Shafique found supportive partners like Azam (55) and Rizwan (40) but it was largely the opener’s solo effort guide his side to an arguably unlikely win. The Lankan bowlers, led by Prabath Jayasuriya’s four-wicket haul, kept pushing hard but were eventually downed by this terrific effort by the 22-year-old’s marathon knock.
334/5 by India vs Australia, Sydney, 2021
In a series characterised by the flamboyance of modern-day cricket, the duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari presented the trademark mettle and resilience that has so defined Test matches over the years. Rishabh Pant (97) and Cheteshwar Pujara (77) looked set to take India to the steep target of 397 runs on the final day.
However, India found themselves in a spot of bother after Pujara’s dismissal at 272/5. Ashwin (23*) and Vihari (39*) held the ground for 42.4 overs, dealing with several body blows in the process, to play out a draw that exuded as much excitement as that of a victory for an injury-ridden Indian team.
329/7 by India vs Australia, Gabba, 2021
Pant finished off the job in Brisbane that he couldn’t in Sydney a week before. With 329 to chase and the series on the line, Shubman Gill provided India a sublime start with his 91-run knock. However, it was Pant who scored 89 off 138 deliveries as he almost single-handedly dragged the Indian team to a historic victory at the Gabba.
The win helped India claim a series victory despite suffering with numerous injuries to frontline players. The wicketkeeper-batsman was unfazed by pressure as he took on the Australian bowlers at will throughout the innings. He formed key partnerships with Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Washington Sundar and helped India cruise to a defining victory against all odds Down Under.
