Punished for plenty: Three most expensive overs in Test cricket
It is generally seen in Test cricket that a player takes his time to build an innings, and seldom tries to score very quickly. However, in certain situations, players have accelerated the scoring rate even in the longest format. This can sometimes lead to players clubbing loads of runs against a particular bowler in an over. In this article, we are going to list out the three most expensive overs in the Test format.
Keshav Maharaj vs Joe Root – 28 runs
Joe Root conceded 28 runs against South Africa in Port Elizabeth Test, 2020. Keshav Maharaj slammed him for 24 runs with the bat in the first 5 balls, while he conceded 4 byes on the last ball. Though the stage at which this happened was inconsequential. The South African team were asked to follow on in this match and had lost 9 wickets for 138 runs.
Keshav Maharaj who came to bat at number 8 scored 71 runs off 106 balls with the help of 10 fours and 3 sixes. South Africa eventually got all out for 237 runs losing the match by an innings and 53 runs.
George Bailey vs James Anderson – 28 runs
George Bailey smashed James Anderson for 28 runs in an over in an attempt to improve the scoring rate in a Test match in 2013. The Australian team wanted to set a big target for England in the fourth innings which prompted Bailey to go berserk over Anderson.
Bailey scored 39 runs off 30 balls in his innings of which 28 runs came in only 6 balls. Australia won this match by 150 runs in the end as England were bowled out for 353 runs in the fourth innings while chasing a big target of 504 runs.
Brian Lara vs Robin Peterson – 28 runs
In the Johannesburg Test played in 2003, Brian Lara slammed a brilliant double ton against South Africa. In the first innings of the match, the hosts had posted a big total of 561 runs. In response, West Indies scored 410 runs with the help of a 202-run knock from Lara.
During his innings, Lara hit Robin Peterson for 28 runs in an over. This was a new record at that time, and still, no one has been able to cross the tally. West Indies lost this match by 189 runs eventually as they got all out for 188 runs in the 378-run chase.
