Five instances in 21st century when teams lost after declaring their 2nd innings
It is often seen in Test cricket that Teams in commanding positions declare their second innings to set a challenging target for the opposition in the fourth innings. They make a calculated decision based on the time left in the match and possible winning target. However, in some of the instances, Teams have even lost the match after declaring in the second innings. In this article, we are going to discuss 5 such instances which have happened in the 21st century.
5. The Ashes, 4th Test, 2001
In the fourth Test of the Ashes series of 2001, Australia declared their second innings at the score of 176/4 thus setting a target of 315 runs for England in the fourth innings. The English team defied the odds as they chased down this target in 73.2 overs and won by 6 wickets.
Mark Butcher who came to bat at number three played a brilliant 173-run knock off 227 balls. His attacking game made Australia regret their decision to declare. Earlier in the first innings, England were bowled out for 309 runs in response to Australia’s total of 447 runs. Butcher was adjudged player of the match for his glorious innings.
4. Wisden Trophy, 2nd Test, 2017
After conceding a 169-run lead in the first innings, England fought back in the second innings of the Leeds Test against West Indies in 2017. They posted a huge total of 490/8 in the third innings of the match, and the visitors had to chase 322 runs for a win.
West Indies proved their dark horses tag in the fourth innings by registering an unexpected win. They chased down the total for the loss of 5 wickets in 91.2 overs. Shai Hope struck an unbeaten 118 run knock in 211 balls to help his team triumph over the hosts. Opener Kraigg Brathwaite scored vital 95 runs off 180 balls. Hope was adjudged player of the match for his magnificent ton.
3. South Africa tour of Australia, 3rd Test, 2006
South Africa declared their innings at 194/6 in the Sydney Test 2006 in the hope to win on the last day of the match. They had assumed that the target of 287 runs in the fourth innings was big enough to be out of the hosts’ reach in the remaining overs. However, they were blown away by the fiery knocks of Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden who took the team to an incredible win.
Ricky Ponting blasted 143 runs off 159 balls with the help of 16 fours while Hayden scored 90 runs in 134 balls. Australia chased down the 287-run target in 60.3 overs thus winning the match by 8 wickets. Ponting was declared player of the match for his amazing innings. Earlier in the first innings, South Africa took a 92-run lead as they bowled out Australia for 359 runs after scoring 451/9
2. England tour of India, 1st Test, 2008
The first Test between England and India played in Chennai was the first match played in the country after the horrific Mumbai attacks. For England, captain Andrew Strauss hit centuries in both innings to lead from the front. The visitors declared their second innings at 311/9 setting 387 runs for India in the fourth innings.
Indian opener Virender Sehwag uplifted the hopes of a win for the hosts as he scored a quickfire 83 runs off 68 balls. On the final day of the match, India chased down the big target in 98.3 overs and registered a memorable victory by 6 wickets. Sachin Tendulkar scored unbeaten 103 runs off 196 balls, while Yuvraj Singh too had a vital contribution of 85 runs. Both of them added 163 runs for the fifth wicket. Sehwag was selected as the player of the match for showing India the winning way from the start.
1. West Indies tour of Bangladesh, 1st Test, 2021
The 1st of the two-match Test series played between West Indies and Bangladesh was definitely one of the most exciting Tests ever played. The West Indies team was chasing 395 runs in the fourth innings after Bangladesh declared their second innings at the score of 223/8. The visitors lost their first 3 wickets for 59 runs and were looking in trouble.
From here, the two debutants Kyle Mayers and Nkrumah Bonner scripted a historic win by adding 216 runs for the fourth wicket. Kyle Mayers scored unbeaten 210 runs off 310 balls which is the highest individual score by a debutant in the fourth innings of the match. West Indies chased down the total in 127.3 overs winning the thriller by 3 wickets. Kyle Mayers was awarded player of the match for his marvellous knock.
