South Africa almost did the impossible at the
Wanderers. The hosts were given a fourth innings target of 458 by India. In the
entire history of Test cricket a fourth innings target of 400 had been chased
down only four times with the highest being 418 for seven by West Indies
against Australia at St.John’s in 2003. When the match ended, South Africa were
just 8 runs short of what would have been a phenomenal victory.
This will now go down as one of the closest draws in
Test history. The following list is compiled from the batting sides’
perspective.
Closest draws in Test cricket
|
Runs
remaining
|
Team
|
Total
|
Target
|
Opponents
|
Venue
|
Season
|
|
1
|
England
|
204-6
|
205
|
Zimbabwe
|
Bulawayo
|
1996-97
|
|
1
|
India
|
242-9
|
243
|
West
Indies
|
Mumbai
WS
|
2011-12
|
|
6
|
India
|
355-8
|
361
|
West
Indies
|
Mumbai
BS
|
1948-49
|
|
6
|
England
|
228-9
|
234
|
West
Indies
|
Lord's
|
1963
|
|
8
|
Australia
|
238-8
|
246
|
England
|
Melbourne
|
1974-75
|
|
8
|
South Africa
|
450-7
|
458
|
India
|
Johannesburg
|
2013-14
|
|
9
|
India
|
429-8
|
438
|
England
|
The
Oval
|
1979
|
|
10
|
New
Zealand
|
274-6
|
284
|
Australia
|
Brisbane
|
2001-02
|
South Africa’s total (450-7) is the third highest
total by any side in the fourth innings of a Test as is detailed below:
Highest fourth innings totals in Test cricket
|
For
|
Total
|
Opponents
|
Venue
|
Season
|
Result
|
|
England
|
654-5
|
South Africa
|
Durban
|
1938-39
|
Drawn
|
|
New Zealand
|
451
|
England
|
Christchurch
|
2001-02
|
Lost
|
|
South Africa
|
450/7
|
India
|
Johannesburg
|
2013-14
|
Drawn
|
|
India
|
445
|
Australia
|
Adelaide
|
1977-78
|
Lost
|
|
New Zealand
|
440
|
England
|
Nottingham
|
1973
|
Lost
|
|
New Zealand
|
431
|
England
|
Napier
|
2007-08
|
Lost
|
|
India
|
429-8
|
England
|
The Oval
|
1979
|
Drawn
|
Highest 4th innings successful chases in Test
cricket
|
Score
|
For
|
Opponents
|
Venue
|
Season
|
|
418-7
|
West Indies
|
Australia
|
St John's
|
2003
|
|
414-4
|
South Africa
|
Australia
|
Perth
|
2008-09
|
|
406-4
|
India
|
West Indies
|
Port-of-Spain
|
1975-76
|
|
404-3
|
Australia
|
England
|
Leeds
|
1948
|
|
387-4
|
India
|
England
|
Chennai
|
2008-09
|
|
369-6
|
Australia
|
Pakistan
|
Hobart
|
1999-00
|
|
362-7
|
Australia
|
West Indies
|
Georgetown
|
1977-78
|
|
352-9
|
Sri Lanka
|
South Africa
|
Colombo PSS
|
2006
|
Faf du Plessis seems to be a master of fourth
innings chases. On his Test debut he had batted for 7 hours 46 minutes against
Australia at Adelaide in 2012-13 saving South Africa from a certain defeat and
he batted for more than six and half hours at the Wanderers to take South Africa
almost through. Faf du Plessis is the first South African to bat for more than
six hours in fourth innings of a Test on two occasions. His 134 is now the
highest individual score by any batsman against India in the fourth innings of
a Test.
Highest individual scores in fourth innings vs India
|
Batsman
|
Runs
|
Venue
|
Season
|
|
Faf du Plessis (SA)
|
134
|
Johannesburg
|
2013-14
|
|
Duleep Mendis (SL)
|
124
|
Kandy
|
1985-86
|
|
Daryll Cullinan (SA)
|
122*
|
Johannesburg
|
1996-97
|
|
Desmond Haynes (WI)
|
112*
|
Bridgetown
|
1988-89
|
|
Viv Richards (WI)
|
109*
|
Delhi
|
1987-88
|
|
Younis Khan (Pak)
|
107*
|
Kolkata
|
2007-08
|
|
Ross Taylor (NZ)
|
107
|
Wellington
|
2008-09
|
