Published 16:21 IST, October 21st 2019
Ind vs SA: Four lowest scores by a visiting team in the fourth innings
Ind vs SA: After bowling SA out for 162 India enforced the follow-on. Let's look at the four lowest scores in the fourth innings by an overseas team in India.
India are playing South Africa in the ongoing third Test match in Ranchi where the hosts are in a commanding position after scoring 497 for 5. Indian bowlers bowled out South Africa for 162 in the first innings and enforced follow on for the second time in the series. South Africa are reeling at 97 for 6 still trailing by 238 runs and they have a huge task in front of them to avoid a defeat by an inning.
Batting in the fourth innings in India is a difficult task. Chasing always becomes tricky on day 4 & 5 of a Test match and the team batting in the fourth innings has lost more often than not. There have been various instances of low scores in the fourth innings. Let us look at top four lowest scores in fourth innings in India by an overseas team:
Australia (93), 4th Test, Australia tour of India in Mumbai, Nov 3-5 2004:
India scored 104 in the first innings with Jason Gillespie picking up 4 wickets. Australia were bowled out for 203 in the first innings and took a 99-run lead. India managed to score 205 in the second innings setting up a target of 107 runs. It would have been a cakewalk for the Aussies but Harbhajan Singh had other plans as he bagged a fifer and Australia were bowled out for 93 and India registered a famous victory.
England (102), 1st Test, England tour of India in Mumbai, Nov 27 - Dec 1 1981:
India managed to score 179 in the first innings on the back of a half-century by Sunil Gavaskar. England were bowled out on 166 with Dilip Doshi taking 5 wickets. India scored 227 in the second innings setting a target of 241 for the visitors. England's batting line-up was rattled-up by Kapil Dev and Madan Lal who took 5 wickets each to see India home by 138 runs.
Australia (105), 2nd Test, Australia tour of India in Kanpur, Dec 19-24 1959:
Batting first, India could only score 152. Australia scored 219 and took a lead of 67 runs. Jasubhai Patel picked up 9 wickets for India in the first innings. India scored 291 in the second innings and set the visitors a target of 225 runs. Australia bundled out for 105 and India won the match by 119 runs. Patel was again the chief predator who rattled Australia with a fifer.
South Africa (105), 1st Test, South Africa tour of India in Ahmedabad, Nov 20-23 1996:
India opted to bat first and scored 223 in the first innings with Sachin Tendulkar top-scoring with 42. South Africa were bowled out for 244 which gave them a 21-run lead. India managed to score only 190 in the second innings and set a target of 170 for the Proteas. But the visitors were decimated by Javagal Srinath's bowling as he ended up picking up 6 wickets and helping India to a 64-run win.
Updated 22:08 IST, October 21st 2019