5 defiant, match-saving innings of this decade

There are numerous factors that make Test cricket special. The fact that, at times, a hard-earned draw is more credible than a victory is one of the many reasons for the greatness of the sport.

Test cricket history is full of memorable knocks by batsmen through which they saved their team from defeat and achieved a draw that was probably sweeter than even a win. Some of those great performances have come in this decade.

While most of these efforts come in the fourth innings, sometimes the situation of the game results in the third innings of the game witnessing such heroic exploits.

Here is a list of five magnificent performances from batsmen in this decade that secured a very satisfying draw for their respective teams.

#5 Roston Chase – 137* vs India (Jamaica, 2016)

Roston Chase's knock of 137* denied India victory in the Jamaica Test

When the Indian team arrived on Caribbean shores for a four-match Test series, they were the overwhelming favourites. An easy victory ensued for the visitors in the first Test and the Windies side looked all set to lose the second Test in Jamaica also when they ended day 4 at 48/4, trailing the Indians by 254 runs in their second innings. The match seemed all set for an early finish on the final day.

But then rose to the challenge a new entrant into the West Indian team – Barbadian all-rounder Roston Chase.

Coming in to bat at No 6, Chase shared a 93-run partnership with Jermaine Blackwood, then a 144-run partnership with Shane Dowrich to give West Indies hope. A 103-run partnership with skipper Jason Holder then followed.

The pitch was docile and very slow but still the fragility of the West Indian batting line-up didn’t provide any reason for their fans to be optimistic. The Indian spinners, especially Ravichandran Ashwin, looked lethal and the vulnerability of the Caribbean batsmen to spin made their downfall seem very likely.

But Chase used his height and the long reach it provided to great effect. He played Ashwin off the backfoot by using the depth of the crease but also came a long way forward when he bowled a fuller length. This blunted the Indian ace spinner and made sure that he got only one wicket on the final day.

Chase remained not out on 137 off 269 balls and was, unsurprisingly, the Player of the Match.

#4 Brendon McCullum – 302 vs India (Wellington, 2014)

Brendon McCullum's heroic knock rescued New Zealand from a hopeless position

This was simply one of the greatest pieces of rearguard action in the history of Test cricket. Known for his dashing strokeplay, New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum produced what may well be the greatest Test innings by a New Zealander.

The Kiwis were leading the two-match series 1-0 but had put up a low score in their first innings of the second Test on a green top. Conditions then eased remarkably and India managed a big score in their first innings, leaving New Zealand with a deficit of 246.

And when New Zealand were reduced to 94/5, a big innings defeat seemed certain. But then McCullum teamed up with BJ Watling and produced his magnum opus. Rather than playing his natural all-out attacking game, Baz knuckled down and kept the Indian bowlers at bay. He toned down his ultra-aggressive mode to one of cautious positivity.

McCullum still played fierce shots and severely punished any loose deliveries that came his way. But he became more of a marathon man than the sprinter he usually is by batting for nearly 13 hours and 559 balls to make his team’s series victory certain, also giving New Zealand their first triple century in Test cricket.

There were a couple of dropped catches but they should not in the least obscure the undeniable magnificence of his match-saving knock.

#3 Matt Prior – 110* vs New Zealand (Auckland, 2013)

Matt Prior's determination to defy New Zealand saved England from a series loss

Guts and determination are two words which spring to mind when thinking about this knock from Matt Prior.

His team - England - had arrived in New Zealand as overwhelming favourites after a historic series win in India. However, the pitches for the series were generally flat and the first two Tests ended in a draw making the third and final one the decider.

The Kiwis turned the tables on England and dominated the game throughout, giving England an unrealistic target of 481 in the fourth innings to win.

158/5 at lunch, England seemed down and out when Matt Prior walked out to bat at No 7. He had declared his intention of fighting hard despite the odds in an interview earlier.

On an absolutely flat pitch, but one where the Kiwi bowlers seemed unstoppable, Prior dug his heels in and refused to budge. Playing in his usual positive style - he was also solid in defence - he had a crucial 8th-wicket partnership with Stuart Broad that lasted for 174 balls.

Prior had a big slice of luck as well as on one occasion, when he tried to fend off a short delivery - it fell on the base of the stumps and then rolled on to it as well but the bails remained in place.

Apart from this instance though, Prior was strong as a wall and didn’t give any opportunity to the hosts. Even though the visitors lost a couple of wickets towards the end, Prior made sure his team got to safety, remaining not out on 110 off 182 deliveries.

#2 Faf du Plessis – 110* vs Australia (Adelaide, 2012)

Faf du Plessis's remarkable innings on debut frustrated Australia no end

What makes this spectacular act of defiance by Faf du Plessis even more amazing is the fact that it came in his debut match.

The pitch at Adelaide is usually flat and was even more so for this match. After having the upper hand during most of the match, Australia declared their second innings after giving South Africa a target of 430.

Australia had lost James Pattinson due to injury for the second innings but they still put the Proteas in a hopeless situation when the fourth wicket fell at the score of 45. The biggest threat for the South Africans was Nathan Lyon on a pitch expected to deteriorate.

But Faf, considered a one-day specialist till then, went on to defy the Australians in a manner that left everyone awe-struck.

He paired up with AB de Villiers to form a partnership that lasted 68 overs. But with 55 overs left in the match, Australia were still the favourites. Du Plessis, though, was undeterred and remained unbeaten till the end, having batted for more than 7-and-a-half hours and 376 balls, to see his team to safety.

The visitors scored at a snail’s pace but with runs not being the main concern, they weren't bothered. They kept blocking and in the end, left Australia’s two seamers – Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus – so exhausted that they missed the next game.

#1 Jacques Kallis – 109* vs India (Cape Town, 2011)

Jacques Kallis was solid as a rock despite a bad back against India at Cape Town in 2011

It’s amazing when one recalls that this great knock from Jacques Kallis came after he had already scored a hundred in the first innings of the Test. And if that is not incredible enough, he played this knock with an injured back that had kept him off the field in India’s first innings.

The series was locked at 1-1 and the hosts seemed in imminent danger of losing the third and final Test - and the series - when they had lost half their wickets with just 98 runs on the board in their second innings. Harbhajan Singh was on a roll having dismantled the South African top-order.

Kallis needed to do something special to halt India’s momentum. His response was masterful. The great batsman started to play the reverse sweep to counter Harbhajan’s efforts and succeeded in foiling his plans.

After having stopped the off-spinner, Kallis, along with Mark Boucher who joined him after the loss of the sixth wicket at the score of 130, crafted a 103-run partnership to get South Africa out of the woods, and then carried the lower order along with him to put the game out of India’s reach.

By batting for more than six hours with a bad back, Kallis, always an under-appreciated figure, once again showed why he is an all-time great.