Top 10 lowest targets defended in Test cricket

Here is a list of 10 of the lowest scores successfully defended by teams in the history of Test cricket.

#10 124 - Australia v England, Lord\'s, 1888

England had no answers to pace bowlers Charlie Turner and J.J. Ferris who bundled them out for 53 and 62 in the two innings of the Test. They, however, did return the favour in the second innings, dismissing the Australian team for 60, but the 116 runs posted in the first turned out to be decisive for the visitors as the match ended in just 2 days.

#9 124 - Australia v England, Manchester, 1902

Victor Trumper’s 104 and Bill Lockwood’s 6/48 were the highlights in the first innings as Australia made 299. Stanley Jackson’s determined knock of 128 steered England to 262, in reply.

Lockwood, then, ran through the Australian line-up again, dismissing them for 86 to give his team a target of 124. The home side were on their way for a win having comfortably crossed the 100-run mark with five wickets in hand.

Hugh Trumble and Jack Saunders had other ideas, though, as they turned the tables on the opposition to produe a three-run win, thereby pocketing the Ashes, as well.

#8 124 - England v Australia, The Oval, 1997

In reply to England’s 180 in the first innings, Australia could only manage 220. If it was Glenn McGrath who did the damage for Australia with the ball with his 7/76, it was Phil Tufnell for England – with his 7/66.

Michael Kasprowicz’s 7-wicket haul (7/36) in the second innings, then, reduced the home side to 163, giving Australia a target of 124. However, Tufnell (4/27) combined with Andrew Caddick (5/42) to dismiss their Ashes rivals for 104 in the final Test for a consolation win.

#7 120 - West Indies v India, Bridgetown, 1997

Opting to field, India were able to reduce the Windies to 298 despite Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s unbeaten 137. Venkatesh Prasad’s 5/82 stood out among the bowlers. The visitors were going strong and were 253/3 at one stage, only to be dismissed for 319.

Abey Kuruvilla’s 5/68 in the second innings meant India only had to chase 120 for a win, which they didn’t manage to.

#6 117 - South Africa v Australia, Sydney, 1994

Despite a 91-run second wicket partnership between Gary Kirsten and Hansie Cronje, South Africa were bowled out for 169 in the first innings, courtesy Shane Warne’s 7/56. Australia responded with 292 as Michael Slater played a valuable knock of 92.

In the second innings, Jonty Rhodes’s 76* helped Proteas make 239, setting a target of 117. Fanie de Villiers, who had taken 4 wickets in the first, was unstoppable this time picking up 6 more to give the visitors a 5-run win.

#5 111 - England v Australia, Sydney, 1887

Fielding first, Australia’s Charlie Turner (6/15) and J.J.Ferris (4/27) blew England away for 44. The home side didn’t let things drfit away too much by getting them all out for 119.

England batsmen then managed to score 184 in 136.2 overs. Ferris was the wrecker-in-chief, again, picking up 5/76. Chasing an easy target, Australia lost wickets at regular intervals, losing the game in the end by 13 runs. Billy Barnes captured 6/28 bowling 46 overs of the 107 bowled.

#4 111 - England v Australia, The Oval, 1896

Chosing to bat first, England never really got going and were dismissed for 145. Australia’s Hugh Trumble finished with 6/59. Jack Hearne returned the favour as Australia were shot out for 119 despite a 75-run opening stand.

It further motivated Trumble as he repeated his first innings heroics by snaring 6 wickets for 30 runs. However, the visitors were left in tatters as Bobby Peel (6/23) combined with Hearne (4/19) to force Australia into submission, getting them all out for 44, 67 runs short off the target. Even the legendary W.G.Grace could make only 33 runs in the match.

#3 107 - India v Australia, Mumbai, 2004

Remember the Test when Michael Clarke claimed all the last six wickets (6/9) to fall in the Indian second innings, at Mumbai?

Batting first, India could only make 104 with Rahul Dravid remaining unbeaten on 31. Anil Kumble (5/90) and Murali Kartik (4/44) did their best to keep the visitors down to 203. A patient India slowly erased the deficit and were nicely poised at 182/4 when Michael Clarke’s introduction completely changed the course of the game.

Chasing only 107 to register a 3-0 series win in the final Test, Australia lost track faltering against spin,with Harbhajan Singh picking up 5 wickets.

#2 99 - West Indies v Zimbabwe, Trinidad, 2000

It was the first Test of the tour, and the Carribean side were on the back foot straightaway with Heath Streak contributing 4/45 to reduce them to 187. Andy Flower’s unbeaten 113 meant Zimbabwe gained a 49-run lead.

Streak was again in full flow (5/27), and he gave his side a very good chance for causing an upset. However, the Windies pace battery that had the likes of Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh were simply too hot to handle for Zimbabwe as they were dismissed for 63 with Franklyn Rose bagging 4/19.

#1 85 - England v Australia, The Oval, 1882

Chosing to bat first in the only Test of the tour in 1882, Australia were bowled out for 63 with Dick Barlow 5/19 and Ted Peate 4/31 doing the bulk of the damage. In reply, England could only manage 101 as Frederick Spofforth claimed 7/46.

In the second innings, despite a 66-run opening stand and a half century from opener Hugh Massie, Australia posted just 122, setting up a target of 85. Spofforth was again the wrecker-in-chief as Billy Murdoch’s team won the game by 7 runs.