Test cricket can be viewed as a slow moving format as it takes place over a period of 5 days but in reality it can be a thrilling affair too. There can be plenty of twists & turns taking place as the game proceeds to the fourth innings of a Test match.
However, only few moments can be as thrilling like the last-wicket pair batting together with the game at stake. It can be either to save a Test match or possibly winning one from the jaws of defeat. These occurrences, though rare but gives us a feel of a edge of a seat thriller and adds to the excitement of this beautiful sport.
Here we will talk about all those memorable last wicket wins by teams in Test cricket in this “Highest Tenth Wicket Partnership to win a game”.
Highest 10th Wicket Partnerships in 4th innings in Test Wins
| Partners | Runs for 10th Wkt | Against | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kusal Perera & Vishwa Fernando (SL) | 78* | South Africa | Durban | 2019 |
| Ben Stokes & Jack Leach (ENG) | 76* | Australia | Leeds | 2019 |
| Inzamam-ul-Haq & Mushtaq Ahmed (PAK) | 57* | Australia | Karachi | 1994 |
| Arthur Nourse & Percy Sherwell (SA) | 48* | England | Johannesburg | 1906 |
| Sydney Barnes & Arthur Fielder (ENG) | 39* | Australia | Melbourne | 1908 |
| William Johnston & Douglas Ring (AUS) | 38* | West Indies | Melbourne | 1951 |
| Courtney Walsh & Jimmy Adams (WI) | 19* | Pakistan | Antigua | 2000 |
| Jayden Seals & Kemar Roach (WI) | 17* | Pakistan | Kingston | 2021 |
| George Hirst & Wilfred Rhodes (ENG) | 15* | Australia | The Oval | 1902 |
| VVS Laxman & Pragyan Ojha (IND) | 11* | Australia | Mohali | 2010 |
| Brian Lara & Courtney Walsh (WI) | 9* | Australia | Bridgetown | 1999 |
| Alex Kennedy & George Macaulay (ENG) | 5* | South Africa | Cape Town | 1923 |
| Inzamam-ul-Haq & Yasir Ali (PAK) | 5* | Bangladesh | Multan | 2003 |
| Stephen Boock & Gary Troup (NZ) | 4* | West Indies | Dunedin | 1980 |
| Farveez Maharoof & Lasith Malinga (SL) | 2* | South Africa | Colombo (PSS) | 2006 |
You can find the overall highest last-wicket partnerships in Tests here.
Key Stats
There have been only 15 last wicket partnerships in the fourth innings that resulted in a win for the respective sides thus far in the 2560-match history of Test cricket. This means only 15 times, a team has won by a wicket and thanks to the contribution of the last pair in Test cricket.
78 – This is the highest 10th wicket partnership in a winning cause in the fourth innings. It was achieved by the Sri Lankan pair of Kusal Perera and Vishwa Fernando against hosts South Africa in the famous Test match at Durban in 2019.
In the same year, Test cricket another epic last wicket stand that fetched a win, this time for England. In the Ashes game at Headingly, Ben Stokes and no.11 Jack Leech (1 run) put on unbeaten 76-run stand for the final wicket to win them the game.
7 – Out of the 15 occurrences, 7 of them came since the start of 2000. Malinga was also part of an ODI record partnership along with Angelo Matthews. The duo had a 132-run partnership against Australia in 2010. Find out the highest partnerships that came for 6th or lower wickets in ODIs here.
118 – This is the highest 10th wicket partnership in a fourth innings and it was between New Zealand’s Nathan Astle and Chris Cairns at Christchurch against England in 2002. Unfortunately, it didn’t come in a winning cause as NZ fell short in their mamoth 550 chase by 98 runs.
133 – This is the highest 10th wicket stand in a won Test match but it was in the second innings of the Tests and it was it between Zaheer Khan & Sachin Tendulkar against Bangladesh at Dhaka in 2004. Likewise, the overall highest tenth wicket stand is 198 between England’s Joe Root and James Anderson, coming against India at Lord’s in 2014.
Also Read: The Top Ten Highest Opening Partnership in Test Cricket
