Highest Successful Run Chases For South Africa In Test Cricket

Aashay Chopade

Aiden Markram against Australia (AP Photos)Aiden Markram against Australia (AP Photos)

South Africa and Australia are up against each other in the all-important WTC final at the home of cricket, the Lord's Cricket Ground. The pendulum has swung from one team to another throughout the game and now South Africa have started well in their run-chase of 282.

The run-chases in the final innings of a Test match are always tough and with the pitch assisting bowlers at Lord's, the task is even tougher for the Proteas. However, in recent times, teams have chased down some big totals, and South Africa themselves have nailed some big run-chases in their glorious past. 

Thus, in this article, we will look at the highest successful chases by South Africa in Test cricket and see where the current one will stand if they do get over the line.

South Africa's History Of Glorious Run-Chases Against Australia

South Africa's biggest chase in Test cricket came in December 2008 against Australia. In that game at Perth, the Proteas chased down the target of 414 and won the game by six wickets. The second successful chase was also against Australia, and it was in Durban when they won they chased down a target of 335.

Interestingly, the third successful run chase also was against the Aussies and it was back in 1953 at the MCG. In that game, South Africa chased the target of 295 and won the game by six wickets. The fourth one in the list is South Africa's run-chase against England in 1906, where they won the match by just one wicket while chasing a target of 284.  

Top 4 Successful Run-Chases For South Africa In Test Cricket

Opposition
Target Chased
Final Score
Year
Australia414414/42008
Australia335340/52002
Australia295297/41953
England284287/91906

Thus, if South Africa win the WTC final against Australia, it would be their fifth-highest run chase in Test history and probably their most famous victory with the WTC title on the line. Also, South Africa's top 3 run-chases have come against Australia which is a positive sign for a team often haunted by the 'Chokers' tag in the world of cricket.