Thanks to an epic 135* by Ben Stokes, England chased down their highest run-chase during the third Ashes Test match played at Headingly, Leeds on Monday to level Ashes at 1-1. It was an amazing effort by the hosts who looked down and out after being bowled out for 67 runs in the 1st innings.
Stokes played with caution scoring 2 runs off 50 balls in the latter half of 3rd day. The all-rounder proved his worth and added 86 runs for the 5th wicket with Jonny Bairstow. England kept losing wickets and was struggling at 286 for 9. Stokes came to the party and made an impact reaching his century off 199 balls. After reaching his century, the hard-hitting left-handed batsman took on Australian bowlers. With 76 runs required to win, Stokes hit 74 runs and Jack Leach scored 1 run to give England an impossible 1 wicket win over Australia. With this win, England has kept the Ashes alive with 2 Test matches to go.
England started their Test career on 15th March 1877. This could be a massive moment in the Ashes. For his all-round performance, Ben Stokes was named the man of the match.
The first time Australia chased down 350 plus runs in Test cricket was from 31st March to 5th April 1978 at Georgetown, Guyana. Australia chased down a massive target of 362 runs with the loss of 7 wickets. GM Wood 124 and CS Serjeant 127 helped Australia to successful chase down this target.
Australia chased the massive target of 404 runs against England at Headingly, Leeds on from 22nd July 1948. AR Morris 182 and Don Bradman 172 helped Aussies win the match by 7 wickets.
During the 2nd Test match at Hobart, Australia chased down a massive target of 369 runs to win the match. Justin Langer provided the foundation with 127 and Adam Gilchrist played one of best innings remaining not out on 149 off 163 balls which helped Australia win the match by 4 wickets. The match took place on 18th November 1999.
India is the 2nd Team to chase 350 plus targets twice. Under the captaincy of Bishan Singh Bedi, India chased a massive target of 406 runs to win against West Indies from 7th April 1976 at Port of Spain, Trinidad. Sunil Gavaskar 102 laid a strong foundation for a win, Mohinder Amarnath 85, Gundappa Vishwanath 112 and Brijesh Patel 49 not out helped India register a historic 6 wicket win.
During the 1st match at Chennai from 11th December, India chased down a massive target of 387 runs to win. Virender Sehwag and Gambhir laid the foundation adding 117 runs for the opening wicket. The unbeaten partnership of 163 runs between Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh helped India chase down the massive target with 6 wickets to spare.
Sri Lanka has also chased 350 targets in Test matches twice. The hosts chased a massive target of 391 runs to win against Zimbabwe at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo from 14th July 2017. It was a team effort by the Sri Lankan batsmen as Kusal Mendis 66, Dickwella 81, Gunaratna 80* and Dilruwan Perera 29* helped Sri Lanka chase down the target with 4 wickets remaining.
From 4th August 2006 onwards, Sri Lanka chased down the target of 352 runs against South Africa at P Sara Oval, Colombo. Captain Mahela Jayewardene played a captain knock scoring 123, Sanath Jayasuriya 73, Prasanna Jayewardene 30 and Farveez Maharoof 29* helped Sri Lanka win the match by just 1 wicket.
West Indies, South Africa, and Pakistan chased down the target of 350 plus 1 time each. West Indies chased down 418 runs to win against Australia at St Johns Park, Antigua from 9th May 2003. Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul twin centuries laid a strong foundation. Omari Banks 47* and Drakes 27* helped West Indies chase down a record total in Test cricket.
South Africa only successful run chase came against Australia at WACA, Perth from 17th December 2008. Proteas chased down 414 runs to win the match. Captain Graeme Smith 108, Hashim Amla 53, Jacques Kallis 57, AB de Villiers 106* and JP Duminy 50* not out helped to chase the massive target by 6 wickets.
Pakistan scored 382 runs in the 4th innings against Sri Lanka at Pallekele from 3rd July 2015. Shan Masood 125, Younis Khan 171* and captain Misbah UL- Haq led Pakistan to their successful run chase win the match by 7 wickets.
