5 Best ‘Night-Watchman’ Innings in Test Cricket

4. Eddie Hemmings (England)

Match: England vs Australia | January 2-7 1983 | Sydney, Australia | Scorecard

Score: 95 (195 balls)
Batting Position: Number 3

Eddie Hemmings picked up 3 crucial wickets in the first innings conceding 68 runs as the Australian side lost all their wickets for 314. In reply, England could only muster 237 runs in the second innings handing a reasonable lead of 77 runs to their arch-rivals.

Hemmings, batting at number 9, added 29 handy runs down the order showing some respite against the Australian attack. With a lead of 77 runs, Australia added more misery to the English wounds scoring 382 runs in the third innings as Hemmings yet again starred with the ball picking up 3 more wickets.

England had to chase down a mammoth target of 460 to win the Test match and the best they could do was draw the game which too wasn’t easy by any means. If that wasn’t enough, losing the first wicket at the score of 3 just a few overs prior to the end of fourth day’s play made the times even more testing for the three-lions.

Eddie Hemmings was then sent in to bat at number 3 as the night watchman assigned to play out the day. Hemmings did exactly what the team ordered, and more. He was unbeaten on 4 and the team’s score read 8/1 when the play resumed in the final day of the Test match.

Hemmings faced 195 deliveries and scored 95 runs hitting 6 glorious boundaries as he missed his well-deserved century by 5 runs.

On the back of Hemmings’ brilliance and good support from the rest of the line-up, England finished on 314/7 in 96 overs and obtained their desired result of a draw.