AUS vs IND: The ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy is set to culminate over the next couple of days. Both teams have batted once in the final Test match of the five-match Test series and India, in fact, ended the 2nd day at 141 for 6 in their second essay, which they eventually ended on 157 on day 3.
The series is currently in favour of Australia at 2-1 but they still need to win in the Sydney Test to win the trophy. India took a slender lead of four runs at the end of the second innings and currently, they posed a target of 162 runs ahead with four innings loading.
It is worth mentioning that more than 110 matches have been played at Sydney Cricket Ground but the teams have only managed to chase down a target of over 200 six times.
The teams have psychological safety once they cross the 200 mark. India failed to post that target at the iconic venue. With the Aussies nearing a fantastic win at the SCG on the third day of the enticing Test match, here are the top 5 highest successful 4th inning chases at Sydney Cricket Ground:
5) 216 – Australia vs England – Australia won by six wickets – 1980
Greg Chappell’s valiant 98 in the fourth innings guided Australia to a six-wicket in the second Test of the 1979/80 Ashes tournament. Greg Chappell’s fourth innings score was highly cherished in a low-scoring game.
England were skittled out for 123 while Australia took a slender lead of 22 runs at the end of their first innings. Later, David Gower scored an unbeaten 98 to set a target of 216. Australia were initially in a spot of bother at 98 for the loss of three wickets but Chappell and Hughes stitched a match-winning partnership to take the team home.
4) 260 – Australia vs New Zealand – Australia won by four wickets – 1985
New Zealand’s 1985/86 tour of Australia is always remembered for Richard Hadlee’s heroics with the ball as he picked 33 wickets at an average of 12.15. His bowling heroics led the Kiwis to register a 2-1 victory in the Test series. While New Zealand won the first and third Test, the Aussies won the second Test played in Sydney.
New Zealand scored 193 runs in their second innings and by a significant first-innings lead, Australia had to chase a mammoth 260. Wayne Phillips and David Boon got Australia off to a flying start with respective half-centuries but were soon reduced to 192 for five. It looked like a tough task at that stage but David Hookes and Matthews took the side to victory.
3) 274 – Australia vs England – Australia won by two wickets – 1907
The 1907 thriller between Australia and England was a close affair. England scored 273 runs in their first innings with George Gunn scoring 119. In response, Australia scored 300 runs to secure a 27-run lead. Clem Hill’s contribution was vital as he scored 87 runs. In their second innings, The Three Lions scored 300, setting up a finale where Australia had to score 274 to win the game.
England reduced Australia to 95 for five, which soon became 185 for the loss of seven wickets. However, Peter McAllister, Sammy Carter, Tibby Cotter, and Gerrt Hazlitt ensured that Australia had a two-wicket win. Sammy Carter was the highest scorer in the fourth innings with 61 to his name.
2. 275 – Australia vs England – Australia won by six wickets – 1898
The second-highest chase at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground dates back to 1898. Australia chased the target with ease to seal the series 4-1 against England. Joe Darling stole the show with a 160-run knock.
The game was not in the Kangaroos’ favour at the start. England bowled out Australia for 239 and took a first-innings lead of 96 runs. However, England could not continue to perform in their second innings as they were bundled out for 178, setting up a target of 275. Jack Worrall contributed 62 runs to make light work of the target.
1) 287- Australia vs South Africa – Australia won by eight wickets – 2006
It was the game where Ricky Ponting was at his finest. The Australian skipper became the first player in the history of Test cricket to hit two centuries in the 100th Test match.
Against South Africa, he scored 120 runs in the first innings and 143 runs in the second innings. His unbeaten 143 helped Australia chase a mammoth 287 at Sydney Cricket Ground.
South Africa were trailing in the Test series and responded in an emphatic fashion. They scored 451 in the first innings and took a 92-run lead after bundling Australia for 359. South Africa, in a bid to force a result, declared their innings at 194 to set a target of 287.
After the early dismissal of Justin Langer for 30, Ricky Ponting stitched a brilliant partnership with Matthew Hayden to register the victory.
