Dry spells: Fewest runs scored in a full day’s play in Test cricket
Test Cricket is the real test of the character of a cricketer. It requires you to be patient. There are days when you just have to bat, and bat, and bat. In this article, we discuss some of the games when very few runs were scored after an entire day’s play in the history of Test Cricket.
5. 112 runs- Australia (138-6 to 187) v Pakistan (63-1)
This day was a part of the same Test Match which took place between Australia and Pakistan from October 11-17, 1956 at the National Stadium, Karachi. Just 95 runs were scored in a day. Australia collapsed from 138/6 to 187 on Day 3 of the Test Match. Mahmood and Mohammad cleaned up the tail, giving Pakistan the momentum in the Test Match. Pakistan scored 63/1 in the remaining day. Alimuddin scored 31, while Gul Mohammad scored 24, both being not-out at the end of the day’s play.
4. 111 runs- South Africa (48-2 to 130-6dec) v India (29-1)
This match was the 4th Test in India’s tour of South Africa, 1992-93 at Newlands, Cape Town. This was a part of the final day’s play in this clash between India and South Africa. SA were 48/2 going into the day, with Wessells at 29* and Kirsten at 7*. They went in the next day with the intent of drawing the match. Wessels top-scored with 34, and Cullinan scored 28. South Africa declared at 130/6, leaving India to score 215 runs. India played out the 14 overs, scoring 29/1. The match was a draw, and SA won the series 1-0.
3. 106 runs- England (92-2 to 198) v Australia
This day was a part of the first Ashes Test at Brisbane in England’s tour of Australia, 1958. Peter May led England, and Richie Benaud was the Australian captain. Day 4 of the match yielded just 106 runs. Trevor Bailey top-scored for England, with 68 runs from 427 balls, carrying from 27* at the end of Day 3. Richie Benaud was excellent with the ball, taking 4 wickets for 66 runs. Australia chased down the target of 147 in just 51 overs on Day 5 and took 1-0 lead.
2. 104 runs- Pakistan (104-5) v Australia
This day was a part of the 3rd Test of Australia’s tour of Pakistan from December 4-9, 1959 at the National Stadium, Karachi. Day 4 of the match resulted in just 104 runs being scored. Hanif Mohammad scored one of the slowest 100s in terms of minutes spent on the crease. On that day, however, Mohammad scored just 40 runs as Pakistan batted out the entire day. They only lost 5 wickets. Pakistan’s defensive intent in the match meant that the 3rd and final test of the series ended in a draw. Australia won the series 2-0.
1. 95 runs- Australia (80) v Pakistan (15-2)
This day was a part of the only Test that took place between Australia and Pakistan from October 11-17, 1956 at the National Stadium, Karachi. Day 1 of the match resulted in only 95 runs being scored. Pakistan bundled out Australia for 80 runs in 53.1 overs. The duo of Fazal Mahmood and Khan Mohammad took 6 and 4 wickets each. Aussie all-rounder Keith Miller top-scored with 21 runs. Pakistan also had a sluggish start, scoring just 15 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in the rest of the day. However, Pakistan ended up winning the match comfortably by 9 wickets.
