Cataloguing the best innings of X runs in test history

[OverratedSanity]

77 runs:

Ken Mackay vs SA ,Joburg 1958: Yet another lower order match turning innings by the guy who as I said before must have been irritating as **** to play against. This innings also had one of the two sixes he hit in his (extremely defensive) career. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ca-vs-australia-5th-test-62834/full-scorecard)

Steve Smith vs Pakistan, Leeds 2010: Funny to see his average was 7.6 when this innings began. The good old days before he turned into a batting automaton. This was a bit of an unrefined prototype but was the first time you could see there was some serious ability there. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ca-vs-australia-4th-test-62833/full-scorecard)

Wasim Raja vs WI, Karachi 1980: The last of many great knocks he played against WI. Rescued Pak from 85-5 to ensure a draw and keep the series alive (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-3rd-test-63274/full-scorecard)

Cheteshwar Pujara vs Australia, SCG 2021: Classic Pujara, ugly and inelegant but no shortage of pure grit. An epic stand with Pant, which was then trumped by an even more epic stand after he went, between Vihari and Ashwin to save the game. Set the stage for India's greatest ever overseas win in the last game, where he'd play an even uglier, even more inelegant and even grittier innings. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ca-vs-australia-4th-test-62833/full-scorecard)

Winner:

Alan Davidson vs England, Manchester 1961: A classic Ashes test match with almost too many memorable sequences to mention. With the series tied 1-1 and England seemingly within touching distance of a win, Davidson and McKenzie take Australia from a slim lead of 150 odd to a daunting 256. Hit 20 in an over off Alllen at one point. England had to get the target in less than 4 hours which didn't look likely. Then Ted Dexter smashed a spectacular 76 (ffs another one I forgot, how many great 76s have there been?) in 84 minutes (!), with 62 of those runs in boundaries. Then Benaud starts running through the lineup, aided by a truly absurd slip catch by Bob Simpson, and Australia end up winning with 20 minutes left, and retained the Ashes. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ngland-vs-australia-4th-test-62896/match-news)

Really good highlights package with Davidson and Dexter's innings, Benaud's spell and that Simpson catch can be seen here, it's gold. Fun starts where I've timestamped it:

 

[Coronis]

77 runs:

Ken Mackay vs SA ,Joburg 1958: Yet another lower order match turning innings by the guy who as I said before must have been irritating as **** to play against. This innings also had one of the two sixes he hit in his (extremely defensive) career. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ca-vs-australia-5th-test-62834/full-scorecard)

Steve Smith vs Pakistan, Leeds 2010: Funny to see his average was 7.6 when this innings began. The good old days before he turned into a batting automaton. This was a bit of an unrefined prototype but was the first time you could see there was some serious ability there. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ca-vs-australia-4th-test-62833/full-scorecard)

Wasim Raja vs WI, Karachi 1980: The last of many great knocks he played against WI. Rescued Pak from 85-5 to ensure a draw and keep the series alive (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-3rd-test-63274/full-scorecard)

Cheteshwar Pujara vs Australia, SCG 2021: Classic Pujara, ugly and inelegant but no shortage of pure grit. An epic stand with Pant, which was then trumped by an even more epic stand after he went, between Vihari and Ashwin to save the game. Set the stage for India's greatest ever overseas win in the last game, where he'd play an even uglier, even more inelegant and even grittier innings. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ca-vs-australia-4th-test-62833/full-scorecard)

Winner:

Alan Davidson vs England, Manchester 1961: A classic Ashes test match with almost too many memorable sequences to mention. With the series tied 1-1 and England seemingly within touching distance of a win, Davidson and McKenzie take Australia from a slim lead of 150 odd to a daunting 256. Hit 20 in an over off Alllen at one point. England had to get the target in less than 4 hours which didn't look likely. Then Ted Dexter smashed a spectacular 76 (ffs another one I forgot, how many great 76s have there been?) in 84 minutes (!), with 62 of those runs in boundaries. Then Benaud starts running through the lineup, aided by a truly absurd slip catch by Bob Simpson, and Australia end up winning with 20 minutes left, and retained the Ashes. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ngland-vs-australia-4th-test-62896/match-news)

Really good highlights package with Davidson and Dexter's innings, Benaud's spell and that Simpson catch can be seen here, it's gold:

Might be the best video ever posted here. Benaud, Davidson, Barrington, slip catching and its in black and white!

 

[The Sean]

Before moving on, a major correction needs to be made.

I forgot to include the actual best ever innings of 76 runs:

Dale Steyn vs Australia, MCG 2008: An innings that changed the course of the game, taking SA from a deficit of 140 to a lead of 40 by the time he was out after an epic stand with Duminy. Also took 10 wickets in the match and won them their first series in Australia. Arguably the most important innings ever played by a tailender and one of the ATG all round match performances. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...s-south-africa-2nd-test-351682/full-scorecard)

Also includes that hilarious Hussey drop which can be seen below.

To be fair to Huss there, he didn't actually drop it...

 

[BazBall21]

Appreciate your work Mr Sanity , but Pujara IS elegant actually.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Appreciate your work Mr Sanity , but Pujara IS elegant actually.

Point taken Mrs. Pujara

 

[ankitj]

Steve Smith vs Pakistan, Leeds 2010: Funny to see his average was 7.6 when this innings began. The good old days before he turned into a batting automaton. This was a bit of an unrefined prototype but was the first time you could see there was some serious ability there. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ca-vs-australia-4th-test-62833/full-scorecard)

Wrong URL

 

[OverratedSanity]

Ah **** cant edit now. This is the match.

AUS vs PAK Cricket Scorecard, 2nd Test at Leeds, July 21 - 24, 2010

Get cricket scorecard of 2nd Test, AUS vs PAK, Australia tour of England and Ireland 2010 at Headingley, Leeds dated July 21 - 24, 2010.

www.espncricinfo.com

 

[Nintendo]

Before moving on, a major correction needs to be made.

I forgot to include the actual best ever innings of 76 runs:

Dale Steyn vs Australia, MCG 2008: An innings that changed the course of the game, taking SA from a deficit of 140 to a lead of 40 by the time he was out after an epic stand with Duminy. Also took 10 wickets in the match and won them their first series in Australia. Arguably the most important innings ever played by a tailender and one of the ATG all round match performances. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...s-south-africa-2nd-test-351682/full-scorecard)

Also includes that hilarious Hussey drop which can be seen below.

Gillespie's 201* is undoubtedly the most important innings played by a tailender. Imagine a world where every test double centurion didn't have to feel a bit of shame knowing they share a club with jason.

 

[OverratedSanity]

We back!

78 runs:

Wasim Akram vs Sri Lanka, Colombo 2000: A huge last wicket partnership with Arshad Khan took Pakistan from a 100 run deficit to near parity. Picked up a 5fer in the next innings and finished off the 4th innings runchase with Moin when Pakistan were tottering at 80 odd for 5. Another all too rare amazing all-round display from Wasim. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...nka-vs-pakistan-1st-test-63885/full-scorecard)

Ian Bell vs South Africa, Capetown 2010: Probably one of the prime examples to disprove the "Ian Bell only scores soft runs" thing that was thrown around during his career. He did score a lot of soft runs, but this was a display of Border-esque grit to save the game against a red hot attack. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ica-vs-england-3rd-test-387572/full-scorecard)

Faf du Plessis vs Australia, Adelaide 2012 and Perth 2012: Most people remember Faf's debut series in Australia for the near 400 ball rope-a-dope administered to Australia at Adelaide in the 4th innings. Either side of that innings though, Faf made two 78s that aren't nearly as well remembered even though they were genuinely great in their own way. First, on his test debut, he walks in at 233-4 that soon becomes 250-7 and SA still trail Australia by over 300. With an injured Kallis, he brings the deficit down to a mere 162 which takes precious time out of the game and sets the stage for the blockathon on day 5. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...s-south-africa-2nd-test-573008/full-scorecard)

A few days later in the series decider at Perth, SA are 67-5 on day one and he again rescues them taking them to a respectable 225 which allows Steyn, Amla and Smith to deliver the decisive blows the next day to win the series (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...s-south-africa-3rd-test-573009/full-scorecard)

Winner:

Ricky Ponting vs England, Headingley 2009: Ponting's most entertaining innings ever and my personal favourite from his catalogue. Comes in to bat to resounding boos, and proceeds to embarass England's bowling with a typical counterattack. There are multiple highlights from the innings starting at around the 24 minute mark (a ridiculous hook shot for six off Onions and a gorgeous Tendulkar esque backfoot punch being my favourites from the innings), but the one bit from the below video that I always associate with this innings (even though it was a ball to Watson) is Boycott's bit of commentary here as Harmison comes on to bowl that I've helpfully timestamped. It's right out of a comedy skit. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...d-vs-australia-4th-test-345973/full-scorecard)

 

[Coronis]

Should do a worst innings of X runs version

 

[271 & 16/166]

31 runs:

Ishant Sharma walked in at Mohali vs Australia with the score at 124/8. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...a-vs-australia-1st-test-464526/full-scorecard) Over the next couple of hours, he faced 92 balls, while VVS faced 38. Classic trolljob where Australia repeatedly gave Laxman the free single early in the over (usually after he'd hit a boundary) to get the tailender on strike. Clearly VVS doing this was a recipe for disaster as CW's posters agreed:



Only Jono got it right. Never doubt vvs intentman and his methods.



Tbf VVS' innings genuinely might have been looked at as a mini chanderpaul-esque red inker if not for ishant's stubborn defiance.

Honourable mention: Umesh Yadav with his highest test score, made in 10 balls. All but 1 run scored with DLF maximums. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-south-africa-3rd-test-1187009/full-scorecard)

32 runs:

Doug Ring had already had a pretty great all round series vs WI in 1952. He came up clutch with both bat and ball repeatedly. Took a 6fer and finished off a nervy chase in the first test, an important 65 in the second, a 67 as nightwatchman after the previous two nightwatchmen had gotten themselves out in the third. And finally in the 4th test, he sealed the series with 38 run 10th wicket partnership. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-4th-test-62733/full-scorecard)

Honourable mention: Graham McKenzie's vital last wicket stand with Davidson setting up Benaud's Ashes-winning spell. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...nd-vs-australia-4th-test-62896/full-scorecard). It remained the record 10th wicket stand for Australia in England until Agar and Hughes.

Just been reading Wally Hammond's Cricket My Destiny where he mentioned that his 32 against Australia in 1936/37 on a impossible pitch was a innings he rated most highly, just wondering where this innings was considered in your ratings? Thanks

 

[OverratedSanity]

79 runs:

Hansie Cronje vs Australia, Centurion 1997: An excellent counterattacking innings that pulled SA into a dominant position in the second innings. There's one shot from this knock that has somehow stuck in my mind vividly, when Cronje jumped down the track and smacked McGrath for a flat six over point. I am pleased that this highlights video has included it. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ca-vs-australia-3rd-test-63744/full-scorecard)

Jimmy Adams vs South Africa, Bridgetown 1992: South Africa's inaugural test match is remembered best for their crazy Ambrose/Walsh induced collapse in the 4th innings, but it was set up by Adams' stubborn knock in the 3rd where he added 120 with the tailenders. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...s-south-africa-only-test-63574/full-scorecard)

VVS Laxman vs Australia, Perth 2008: Not even close to VVS's most acclaimed classics vs Australia, but that just shows what an immense catalogue of gems he put together against them. This was one of India's greatest and most satisfying overseas wins ever, when the cheating aussies were defeated after the disgrace at Sydney. Even after excellent knocks by Dravid and Sachin in the first innings that gave India a big advantage, they were stumbling at 125-5 and only 240 odd ahead with the pitch playing better and better. Along with useful runs from Dhoni and RP Singh, VVS took India to an unbeatable position which the bowlers capitalized on the next day. A particularly funny was the dreadful decision Symonds copped off the bowling off Kumble. Karmic justice. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ralia-vs-india-3rd-test-291353/full-scorecard)

Winner:

Gundappa Viswanath vs England, Bengaluru, 1977: Another in a long line of sub-100 classics played by Viswanath. Doesn't get much better than a match winning innings made by a guy already suffering an injury, on a crumbling pitch against a great bowling attack. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ndia-vs-england-4th-test-63177/full-scorecard)

 

[Fuller Pilch]

2 runs : Lance Klusener vs Pakistan, 1998 . Genuinely didnt have one to pick so I just picked the one that makes the least sense. In a close loss to Pakistan, Klusener somehow batted 77 minutes for only 2 runs, while at theother end fanie de villiers smashed 46 to almost drag Lance's dumb behind to a win. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ica-vs-pakistan-2nd-test-63790/full-scorecard)

BUMP.
Marnus has entered the chat.

 

[OverratedSanity]

BUMP.
Marnus has entered the chat.

Timely reminder to continue this thread. Will get on it asap

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Timely reminder to continue this thread. Will get on it asap

Only if you have time. It is such a great thread, but must take a lot of work.

 

[Immenso]

BUMP.
Marnus has entered the chat.

Reminds me a bit of Andrew Jones's 4 on the first morning of Brisbane test in 87/88.

Archive says it was 4 off 53 balls in 89 minutes. Batting at number 3.

Jones was mincemeated in the following morning's Australian (Brisbane) newspapers . Which was quite widely reported back to NZ by the traveling journos.

It was the first view of Jones in any televised cricket, also for the NZ public. If you've ever seen Jones unorthodox techique and weird jumping aesthetics - I can imagine watching him for the first time ever hopping about for an hour and a half scoring at no-runs-per-hour would gave been a WTF Is This Guy? moment.

 

[AndrewB]

This is a strange one. How did he only face 20 balls in 77 minutes? Looks like he didn't actually bat with de Villiers it was Boucher at the other end. I can only assume Boucher farmed the strike excessively while batting with Klusener but then trusted Fanie more . . .

Belated reply, since this innings has been mentioned in the thread recently: Charles Davis's database says Klusener's 2 only lasted for 27 minutes.

 

[Zinzan]

If this thread reaches the mid 80s, Latham's 86 in the second innings in Pune last month is worth an early nomination.

 

[OverratedSanity]

80 runs:

There's plenty of great 80s to go through here and this is one of the toughest ones so far to pick a winner. A few honourable mentions. Actually, before that, we have to cover this:

Dis-honorable mention aka THE SINGLE WORST 50+ score in test history:
Kevin Pietersen vs Pakistan, 2010: I don't claim to have watched quite as much cricket as some of our older members here on CW, but if any of them can testify that they've seen a worse test innings of 50+ runs, then I'll be very impressed. This 80 from Pietersen was one of the most painful things I've ever watched in my lifetime as a cricket fan, and I watched pre-Bumrah Indian fast bowling. The whole thing was a cluster**** of dreadful hoicks, about a million play and misses, dropped catches (4 actual drops, 5 if you count the thick edge to the keeper, and 6 if you count the ridiculous shot he played after backing away from the ball and deciding to play it at the last second). (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...nd-vs-pakistan-2nd-test-426414/full-scorecard)

A chunk of it can be seen below from the 30 minute mark. That Pietersen actually had the gall to raise his bat (albeit sheepishly) when walking off after finally being dismissed is unbelievable to me.

Actual Honorable mentions:

Alvin Kallicharan vs England, 1973: Starting off with two 80s by the underrated Kallicharan against a quality English attack, first in a great partnership with Clive Lloyd after walking in at 64-3 and then from 52-3 in the second innings doing enough to take WI to a winning total. Fine effort but we're just getting started. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-1st-test-63111/full-scorecard)

Brian Lara vs SL, 2003: A less remembered Lara 4th innings mini-masterpiece, surviving a dangerous Murali spell to ensure a comfortable 4th innings chase in partnership with Sarwan to earn a rare series win. Probably the least convincing he's looked against Murali, who honestly was pretty unlucky not to get him out atleast a couple of times, but played some glorious shots too. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...es-vs-sri-lanka-2nd-test-64035/full-scorecard)

There's a hilarious drop at around the 10 minute mark too btw.

Mohinder Amarnath vs WI, 1983: One of the bravest displays of hooking and cutting against hostile pace bowling, against the most fearsome pace quartet in test history. His 91 and 80 in this game earned him man of the match despite being on the side that got thumped by 10 wickets. He'd score 598 runs in the series against Marshall/Holding/Garner/Roberts, more than 300 runs ahead of India\s second highest run-scorer. Probably one of the 5 or so best batting series of all time. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...indies-vs-india-4th-test-63338/full-scorecard)

Alan Davidson vs WI, tied test 1961: A legendary innings from a legendary game, where a famous partnership between Davidson and Benaud took Australia from 92-6 to the brink of victory. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-1st-test-62888/full-scorecard)

The top 3:

3. Anshuman Gaekwad vs WI, 1975: This is one of the great forgotten innings of Indian history, because it came in the same match as Viswanath's 97, which is still recognized as one of the greatest innings by an Indian. Gaekwad's second innings 80 though, was no less crucial as his partnership with incidentally, Viswanath was what made the difference between victory and defeat. Roberts was on fire, the pitch was unplayable, and the series was on the line which all added to it. Shame India lost the last test after coming back from 0-2 to tie the series though.
(https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-4th-test-63134/full-scorecard)

2. Chris Cairns vs England 1999: The deciding test of a mad series came down to a mad assault from Chris Cairns where his counterpunch rescued NZ from the depths of 39-6 to a winning total. On pure quality and clean-ness of ball striking, its the best innings of not just 80 runs, but probably any sub-100 score. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-new-zealand-4th-test-63844/full-scorecard)

1. Bert Sutcliffe (and Bob Blair) vs SA, 1999: In the end, it was a futile slogathon in a game NZ got smashed in. You could argue every single 80 on this list was a more consequential innings (in cricketing terms) in their respective games. This isn't number 1 for purely its cricketing merit (although the flurry of sixes against Tayfield does sound incredibly cool). It's also here for Sutcliffe batting with a brutal injury, and for giving us this eternally badass image (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-new-zealand-2nd-test-62764/full-scorecard)



Mainly though, it's here not just for Sutcliffe, but for Bob Blair. Since I made the enormous oversight of not including his 6 run innings previously in this thread, its time to give it its due. Anyone who is aware of the details knows how amazing the story is. I can't really do it justice, I'll just link this great article, it's worth a read.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/beyond-the-call-of-duty-380889

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

There's plenty of great 80s to go through here and this is one of the toughest ones so far to pick a winner. A few honourable mentions. Actually, before that, we have to cover this:


Actual Honorable mentions:

Alvin Kallicharan vs England, 1973: Starting off with two 80s by the underrated Kallicharan against a quality English attack, first in a great partnership with Clive Lloyd after walking in at 64-3 and then from 52-3 in the second innings doing enough to take WI to a winning total. Fine effort but we're just getting started. (https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-vs-west-indies-1st-test-63111/full-scorecard)


80 in the 1st innings and 80 in the second innings

@ashley bach