5 greatest fourth innings knocks where teams won by one wicket

Kusal Perera's 153* at Durban is being considered as one of the greatest knocks of all time and deservedly so. South Africa have had the best bowling average at home among all teams since 2016. So the fact that Perera's magnificent knock came against the most threatening home attack at the moment makes his match-winning innings even more special.

His last wicket partnership of 78 with Vishwa Fernando is the highest in a one-wicket win. With it, Sri Lanka became only the second team to achieve a one-wicket win away from home.

While Perera's innings will be one for the ages, we look at 5 such fourth innings knocks in one-wicket wins.

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#5 Inzamam-ul-Haq (58*) vs Australia (Karachi, 1994)

Ian Healy missed the stumping and conceded byes as Inzamam handed Pakistan a memorable win

Australia were in driver's seat in Karachi, aiming for a rare Test win in Pakistan when they set a target of 314, and were even more optimistic when they reduced Pakistan to 184/7. But the Aussies faced setbacks in the form of injuries to Glenn McGrath and Tim May and that made them heavily reliant on Shane Warne. Inzamam-ul-Haq, coming in at no.8, was the last hurdle for the Aussies.

Shane Warne registered a five-wicket haul after Inzamam added 52 with Rashid Latif. Pakistan were left with 56 to win with Mushtaq Ahmed being the last man to partner Inzamam, who was quite stable at the other end. Australia seemed clear favorites at that stage, but as the game got closer, it became a case of who held their nerves better.

And it was the Aussies who failed to hold their nerves, with Ian Healy missing a stumping of Inzamam when only 3 runs were needed to win. The missed stumping resulted in byes, and Pakistan won by one-wicket, courtesy Inzamam's gutsy knock of 58*. The 56-run partnership was the record last wicket partnership in a one-wicket win at that time.

#4 Brian Lara (153*) vs Australia (Barbados, 1999)

The 153* by Lara is still considered one of the greatest fourth innings knocks in a winning cause

The innings which is the most comparable to Perera's knock is the one by Brian Lara against Australia at Barbados. Coincidentally, Lara also scored an unbeaten 153 to seal a one-wicket win for the West Indies.

Chasing a target of 308, West Indies were 78/3 when Lara walked in. Shane Warne, Stuart MacGill, Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath were there to make sure Australia take home the game, but Lara had other plans.

Lara added 133 runs with Jimmy Adams after the wicket of Carl Hopper, lifting West Indies from 105/5. Adams scored a gritty 38 before getting out. Curtly Ambrose held one end, battling out 39 balls as Lara took his side closer to the target.

Finally, with 4 needed to win and Courtney Walsh at the other end, Lara hit his trademark cover drive off Gillespie and scripted a historic win.

#3 Jimmy Adams (48*) vs Pakistan (Antigua, 2000)

The former West Indies skipper denied Pakistan a win with his gritty 48*

Jimmy Adams' 48* at Antigua against Pakistan remains the best of his many rearguard knocks. When Pakistan toured West Indies in 2000, it was a period of decline for West Indies, but they were still a difficult side to beat at home.

Chasing a target of 216, the home side slipped to 197/9 from a comfortable 144/3 with Wasim Akram registering a five-wicket haul after an impressive 63 by Wavell Hinds.

Adams, the skipper, was joined by Walsh at the crease with 19 runs still required. Walsh survived a bat-pad appeal, which he actually edged, and then Adams survived a caught behind appeal off Wasim Akram. Fighting his way through to take his side home, Adams batted out 212 balls for his 48*.

After 72 minutes of struggle at the crease, Walsh and Adams scripted a memorable win.

#2 Inzamam-ul-Haq (138*) vs Bangladesh (Multan, 2003)

Inzamam was to the rescue again as Pakistan escaped an embarrassing loss

Bangladesh came agonizingly close to scripting their first ever Test win at Multan in 2003, only to be denied by a Inzamam special. Pakistan, after being bowled out cheaply in the first innings, were set a target of 261. Khaled Mahmud and Mohammad Rafique picked 9 wickets in the first innings.

The second innings did not start well for the home side as they slipped to 132/6. When Saqlain Mushtaq got out in the fourth morning, Pakistan still had 97 runs to win with 3 wickets remaining. But then, it was Bangladesh who faltered in front of a composed Inzamam, dropping a catch and missing a run-out. With 57 required, Pakistan lost Shabbir Ahmed and the game was pretty much in favour of Bangladesh.

Inzamam's 138* off 232 balls, however, denied Bangladesh a famous win and Pakistan managed to pull off an improbable victory.

#1 VVS Laxman (73*) vs Australia (Mohali, 2010)

Laxman's 73* despite having a sore back remains one of the best 4th innings knock for India

Known for his third and fourth innings specials, VVS Laxman, a thorn in the flesh for the Aussies for a very long time, grinded out yet another gritty knock of 73*, helping India take a lead of 1-0 in the 2-match series. The Australian attack comprising of Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Doug Bollinger had India on the mat after setting a target of 216.

Though the target was not that daunting, the match seemed all but lost for India as the home side slipped to 124/8. A half-fit Laxman, suffering from a sore back, came to bat at no.7 and was joined by Ishant Sharma for the 9th wicket with India still requiring 92 to win.

Ishant played the knock of his life, scoring 31 off 81 balls. When he got out, India had Pragyan Ojha to partner Laxman at the crease and Suresh Raina was used as a runner for the injured Laxman.

With 11 runs to win, it was a game of nerves from there on. Some crazy running by Ojha saw Laxman losing his cool, a rare instance, and after a little period of high tension, India pulled off a win from the jaws of defeat against the then world champions. Laxman's 73* still remains one of his most important innings after the epic 281 against the same opposition.