The World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s has delivered a pulsating contest so far, with Australia setting South Africa a challenging target of 282 runs to win the historic Test match. Having bowled out the Aussies for 207 in their second innings, the Proteas now face a monumental chase at the Home of Cricket.
South Africa’s bowling effort in the second innings was spearheaded once again by the relentless Kagiso Rabada, who snared another four wickets to add to his five-wicket haul in the first innings. After going wicketless in the first dig, Lungi Ngidi found his rhythm, picking up three crucial Australian scalps.
For Australia, it was Mitchell Starc who provided vital resistance with an unbeaten 58, adding a crucial 59 runs for the last wicket with Josh Hazlewood (17) to push the target beyond 280. With Australia securing a 74-run first-innings lead after dismissing South Africa for just 138, this 282-run target truly sets up a thrilling fourth-innings chase.
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A 282-run chase in the fourth innings at Lord’s is no small feat, but it’s certainly not unprecedented. History shows that teams have successfully scaled similar or even larger mountains at this iconic venue. Here’s a look at five of the most successful run chases in Tests at Lord’s:
344/1 by West Indies vs England in 1984: This remains the gold standard. A formidable West Indies side, led by Clive Lloyd, chased down 342 runs with nine wickets in hand. The legendary Gordon Greenidge was simply unstoppable, blasting an unbeaten 214, ably supported by Larry Gomes’s 92, as they stitched together a remarkable 287-run second-wicket partnership.
282/3 by England vs New Zealand in 2004: England successfully chased down the exact target of 282 against New Zealand, losing only three wickets. Nasser Hussain was the hero with an unbeaten 103, while Andrew Strauss (83) and Graham Thorpe (51*) also contributed crucial half-centuries in a seven-wicket victory.
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279/5 by England vs New Zealand in 2022: A more recent memory, this chase saw Joe Root deliver a masterclass. His unbeaten 115, combined with captain Ben Stokes’s attacking 54, guided the Poms to successfully chase 277 with five wickets to spare, securing a five-wicket win.
218/3 by England vs New Zealand in 1965: Back in 1965, England successfully pursued 216 runs against New Zealand. Geoff Boycott’s 76 and Ted Dexter’s unbeaten 80 were pivotal as they achieved the target with seven wickets in hand.
193/5 by England vs West Indies in 2012: This relatively smaller chase still showcased England’s resilience. Led by Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook’s 79 and Ian Bell’s unbeaten 63 ensured they chased down 191 runs with five wickets remaining.
South Africa will draw immense inspiration from these historic pursuits. While the target is demanding, the Proteas know it’s within reach if their batters can replicate some of the great fourth-innings performances seen at Lord’s.
