Revealed: The 11 highest successful 4th-innings run chases in Test cricket
What are the highest successful fourth-innings run chases in Test cricket?
Find out more about the highest fourth-innings run chases in Tests.
There have been some formidable chases over the years.
England almost joined this list in position number 10 against India in early August 2025, but ultimately failed.
1. West Indies: 418/7
- Opposition: Australia
- Venue: Antigua
- Year: 2003
West Indies hold the record for the highest successful fourth-innings run chase in the history of Test cricket. This was an absolute doozy from the men in maroon, who ultimately defied Australia’s decision to bat first and collect a famous three-wicket win.
Fourth-innings centuries from Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul claimed the applause at the end, but really fast bowlers Jermaine Lawson and Mervyn Dillon had set things up with their respective seven- and four-fors.
2. South Africa: 414/4
- Opposition: Australia
- Venue: Perth
- Year: 2008
This is South Africa’s highest successful run chase in Test cricket and the highest overall by a visiting team in Tests. This is another instance of Australia conceding a big chase after choosing to bat first at the toss – go figure.
Absolutely ratted by Mitchell Johnson’s eight-for in their first innings, South Africa bounced back in meteoric fashion via centuries from AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith in the final innings to gather an historic six-wicket triumph.
3. Australia: 404/3
- Opposition: England
- Venue: Leeds
- Year: 1948
This is the oldest successful run chase in Test cricket on this list, dating back more than seven decades. Indeed, it has been standing for a long time. England came within touching distance of trumping this Leeds record in 2025, but it’s still standing.
Yet another team to end on the losing side after choosing to bat first, England had little to no answer to Arthur Morris and Don Bradman’s daddy hundreds in the fourth innings. This is the highest successful chase in the history of the Ashes.
Also read – Revealed: The 9 batters with the most 4th-innings runs in Tests
4. India: 406/4
- Opposition: West Indies
- Venue: Trinidad
- Year: 1976
India were marvelous en route to their highest successful run chase in Test cricket away from home 50-plus years ago. They’ve been on the wrong end of their fair share of run chases, particularly against England recently, but this time got one right against the West Indies.
A near double-century from Viv Richards and additional ton from Alvin Kallicharran were effectively rendered useless, as Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Viswanath registered tons of their own to seal India’s big six-wicket win.
5. West Indies: 395/7
- Opposition: Bangladesh
- Venue: Chittagong
- Year: 2021
This is West Indies’ highest successful run chase away from home. They’re on this list for the second time in the top five. It’s a reminder of just how great the Windies’ batting once was – a far cry from their modern-day struggles.
That said, this was as recent as 2021, when Kyle Mayers was still in favour in the Test XI and hit a monstrous, unbeaten double-century in the fourth innings. He is pretty much nowhere in terms of international selection these days. What a mighty fall, of sorts.
6. Sri Lanka: 391/6
- Opposition: Zimbabwe
- Venue: Colombo
- Year: 2017
Sri Lanka all but bullied the visiting Zimbabweans. This is still the small island nation’s highest successful run chase in the history of Test cricket. They did it in front of their adoring fans in Colombo, albeit hapless opposition.
Craig Ervine had all but promised a lot better on the back of tons from Craig Ervine and Sikandar Raza, but the visiting bowlers really let them down as three fourth-innings half-centurions and several other valuable cameos completed a four-wicket win for the Sri Lankans.
7. India: 387/4
- Opposition: England
- Venue: Chennai
- Year: 2008
This is India’s highest successful run chase in Tests at home. Before Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja there were Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh and other Test stars.
Tendulkar hit a hundred and Singh, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir complemented with half-tons in the fourth innings as India won by six wickets. Gambhir has since become head coach and, more recently, been on the wrong end of high, successful chases from England.
8. England: 378/3
- Opposition: India
- Venue: Birmingham
- Year: 2022
Despite their recent additions elsewhere on this list, this is still England’s highest successful run chase in Test cricket. What a feat it was, indeed, against familiar opposition at Edgbaston three years ago.
Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow combined to near perfection, ensuring the rest of the middle and the whole of the lower order were not required at all. Jasprit Bumrah – not for the first time – lacked enough support around him as England delighted in a seven-wicket win.
9. Pakistan: 382/3
- Opposition: Sri Lanka
- Venue: Pallekele
- Year: 2015
Pakistan were at their best away from home 10 years ago. This remains their highest ever successful Test run chase. Perhaps they’ll top it one day, but for now it continues to stand, thanks largely to Shan Masood and Younis Khan.
What Masood started at the top of the order with a fine century, Khan continued in the middle with a remarkable 171 not out. He had Misbah-ul-Haq by his side with an unbeaten half-century en route to a seven-wicket victory.
10. England: 373/5
- Opposition: India
- Venue: Leeds
- Year: 2025
This is the most recent addition to the list of highest successful run chases in Test cricket. While they were unable to finish the job in the fifth and final Test of this series, England displayed their chasing prowess in the series opener.
Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley paved the way with an opening stand of 188 before Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith took their individual and collective cues later in the order en route to a five-wicket victory.
11. Australia: 369/6
- Opposition: Pakistan
- Venue: Hobart
- Year: 1999
This is Australia’s highest successful run chase in Tests at home. In an era when the Aussies had multiple superstars at hand, Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer took their turns to ton up in the fourth innings for a four-wicket win.
Their contributions were particularly important after Ricky Ponting and Mark Waugh perished for ducks and openers Michael Slater and Greg Blewett had failed to convert promising 20s.
Highest successful 4th-innings run chases – summary list of top 12
1. West Indies: 418/7
2. South Africa: 414/4
3. Australia: 404/3
4. India: 406/4
5. West Indies: 395/7
6. Sri Lanka: 391/6
7. India: 387/4
8. England: 378/3
9. Pakistan: 382/3
10. England: 373/5
11. Australia: 369/6