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Which is the best 4th innings Test knock ever in a losing cause?

Harsh Thakor

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This is my list in order of merit of best test match innings ever by a batsmen in a losing cause in the 4th innings when chasing a target?



1.Derek Randall 174 at Melbourne in 1977.

Took combative spirit or rivalry in cricket to its highest dimension or depth.A glorious exhibition of dazzling strokeplay against the greatest fast bowler of his era ,Dennis Lillee.Randall took England within sight of a miraculous victory till he was dismissed and England feel 45 runs adrift of the victory target of 463.Chase had Vibrations of a Hollywood epic with dramatic twists.Cricketring aestheitics at it's supreme height.





2.Sunil Gavaskar 96 at Bangalore in 1987 v Pakistan



On the worst of tracks Gavaskar reminded you of a a surgeon operating a patient considered incurable and coming within touching distance of acheiving it.He resembled a Buddhist monk meditating such were his powers of concentration and the skill of a magicain in lasting on such a nasty track.





3.Sachin Tendulkar 136 at Madras in 1999

Ressurected India from the grave to come within inches of famous win but was sadly dismssed at the brink which triggered of a collapse.Hard to envisage a technically more correct innings on bad wicket or such scintillating strokeplay in such conditions.Continued his momentum like passenger train travvelling inspite of having back spasms.





4.Asad Shafiq 137 at Brisbane in 2016-17

Almost took Pakistan to height of cricketing glory never attained before who one looked dead and buried.





5.Asif Iqbal 135 at Kingston in 1977



On the fastest of wickets dazzling batting display against the greatest of pace attacks.





6.Kumar Sangakaara 192 at Hobart in 2007

at one stage looked like pulling of a miracle for Sri Lanka.Domination at its supreme depth.One of the greatest innings ever down under.





7.Alan Border 123 n.o at Old Trafford in 1981



A truly great batting exhibition lasting out with a broken finger with Australia chasing a target of 506 runs to win.Reminiscent of a soldier in a battle.



8.Mohammad Azharrudin 106 at Adelaide n 1991-92.



A scintillating exhibition of strokeplay which took India within touching distance of a famous win.



9.Rohan Kanhai 110 at Trinidad v England in 1960



Classical display of technical skill and temperament on difficult track.



10.Geoff Boycott 99 n.o at Perth in 1979-80



Stood out against Lillee and co to remain unbeaten. 
 
Asad Shafiq’s knock for me.

Almost carried the team on his own while chasing 450+.

Shame he couldn’t finish it.
 
Asad Shafiq’s knock for me.

Almost carried the team on his own while chasing 450+.

Shame he couldn’t finish it.

To be fair the tail (Amir, Wahab & Yasir) stuck around and contributed as well. Went from 220/6 to 450 all out.
 
Among the ones I saw, I will say Sachin's inning simply because of the quality of bowling attack opposition had. Also, the fact that when Sachin got out, they should have still go on to win. So, in some way, he almost had the job done.

Sangakkara and Shafiq innings weren't against that great bowling attack/bad wicket and it didn't looked like they got the job done when they got out.
 
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Has to be Shafiq. The way he controlled and paced his innings and handled the tail. Credit should be given to Wahab and Yasir but that was just something else.

Wonder where that fire is now... Handled Starc and Hazlewood almost single handedly...
 
Sachin's innings without a doubt. Unparalleled, unmatched and otherworldly considering the condition, opposition attack and emotional investment.
 
Shafiq's due to how close we came. 40 runs and 2 wickets. Especially against aus IN aus chasing a target of 480/90. Would have beaten the highest run chase at that time by 60 runs.
 
Astle 222. He alone carried the team while en route to 450 plus.
 
4th Inning century in losing cause
[table=width: 600, class: grid, align: center]
[tr][td]Player [/td][td]Runs [/td][td]SR [/td][td]Opposition [/td][td]Ground [/td][td]Date [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]NJ Astle (NZ) [/td][td]222 [/td][td]132.14 [/td][td]v England [/td][td]Christchurch [/td][td]Mar-02 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KC Sangakkara (SL) [/td][td]192 [/td][td]68.08 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Hobart [/td][td]Nov-07 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]BE Congdon (NZ) [/td][td]176 [/td][td]46.68 [/td][td]v England [/td][td]Nottingham [/td][td]Jun-73 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DW Randall (ENG) [/td][td]174 [/td][td]49.29 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Melbourne [/td][td]Mar-77 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]KL Rahul (INDIA) [/td][td]149 [/td][td]66.51 [/td][td]v England [/td][td]The Oval [/td][td]Sep-18 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AK Markram (SA) [/td][td]143 [/td][td]65.59 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Durban [/td][td]Mar-18 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]V Kohli (INDIA) [/td][td]141 [/td][td]80.57 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Adelaide [/td][td]Dec-14 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DL Vettori (NZ) [/td][td]140 [/td][td]74.07 [/td][td]v Sri Lanka [/td][td]Colombo (SSC) [/td][td]Aug-09 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]SM Nurse (WI) [/td][td]137 [/td][td]67.15 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Sydney [/td][td]Feb-69 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Asad Shafiq (PAK) [/td][td]137 [/td][td]66.18 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Brisbane [/td][td]Dec-16 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]SR Tendulkar (INDIA) [/td][td]136 [/td][td]49.81 [/td][td]v Pakistan [/td][td]Chennai [/td][td]Jan-99 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]MJ Clarke (AUS) [/td][td]136 [/td][td]59.91 [/td][td]v England [/td][td]Lord's [/td][td]Jul-09 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]D Elgar (SA) [/td][td]136 [/td][td]59.64 [/td][td]v England [/td][td]The Oval [/td][td]Jul-17 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Asif Iqbal (PAK) [/td][td]135 [/td][td]- [/td][td]v West Indies [/td][td]Kingston [/td][td]Apr-77 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]GA Gooch (ENG) [/td][td]133 [/td][td]53.84 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Manchester [/td][td]Jun-93 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DG Bradman (AUS) [/td][td]131 [/td][td]45.64 [/td][td]v England [/td][td]Nottingham [/td][td]Jun-30 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]ST Jayasuriya (SL) [/td][td]131 [/td][td]90.34 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Kandy [/td][td]Mar-04 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]H Sutcliffe (ENG) [/td][td]127 [/td][td]32.56 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Melbourne [/td][td]Jan-25 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Younis Khan (PAK) [/td][td]126 [/td][td]78.75 [/td][td]v South Africa [/td][td]Karachi [/td][td]Oct-07 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AR Border (AUS) [/td][td]123* [/td][td]34.55 [/td][td]v England [/td][td]Manchester [/td][td]Aug-81 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DA Warner (AUS) [/td][td]123* [/td][td]72.35 [/td][td]v New Zealand [/td][td]Hobart [/td][td]Dec-11 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JB Hobbs (ENG) [/td][td]123 [/td][td]79.35 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Adelaide [/td][td]Jan-21 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]FE Woolley (ENG) [/td][td]123 [/td][td]88.48 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Sydney [/td][td]Dec-24 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]EH Hendren (ENG) [/td][td]123 [/td][td]- [/td][td]v West Indies [/td][td]Georgetown [/td][td]Feb-30 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]BC Lara (WI) [/td][td]122 [/td][td]58.65 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Port of Spain [/td][td]Apr-03 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Shahid Afridi (PAK) [/td][td]122 [/td][td]128.42 [/td][td]v West Indies [/td][td]Bridgetown [/td][td]May-05 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Yuvraj Singh (INDIA) [/td][td]122 [/td][td]84.72 [/td][td]v Pakistan [/td][td]Karachi [/td][td]Jan-06 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Ijaz Ahmed (PAK) [/td][td]121 [/td][td]36.55 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Melbourne [/td][td]Jan-90 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]MEK Hussey (AUS) [/td][td]121 [/td][td]46 [/td][td]v England [/td][td]The Oval [/td][td]Aug-09 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]BA Stokes (ENG) [/td][td]120 [/td][td]61.53 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Perth [/td][td]Dec-13 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]PR Umrigar (INDIA) [/td][td]118 [/td][td]- [/td][td]v England [/td][td]Manchester [/td][td]Jul-59 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Moin Khan (PAK) [/td][td]117* [/td][td]56.25 [/td][td]v Sri Lanka [/td][td]Sialkot [/td][td]Sep-95 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]ME Trescothick (ENG) [/td][td]117 [/td][td]43.01 [/td][td]v Pakistan [/td][td]Manchester [/td][td]May-01 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]BRM Taylor (ZIM) [/td][td]117 [/td][td]79.59 [/td][td]v New Zealand [/td][td]Bulawayo [/td][td]Nov-11 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]S Chanderpaul (WI) [/td][td]116* [/td][td]45.13 [/td][td]v England [/td][td]Manchester [/td][td]Jun-07 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]W Watson (ENG) [/td][td]116 [/td][td]- [/td][td]v West Indies [/td][td]Kingston [/td][td]Jan-54 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]V Pollard (NZ) [/td][td]116 [/td][td]37.29 [/td][td]v England [/td][td]Nottingham [/td][td]Jun-73 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]GA Gooch (ENG) [/td][td]116 [/td][td]55.23 [/td][td]v West Indies [/td][td]Bridgetown [/td][td]Mar-81 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AN Cook (ENG) [/td][td]116 [/td][td]40 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Perth [/td][td]Dec-06 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DM Bravo (WI) [/td][td]116 [/td][td]46.58 [/td][td]v Pakistan [/td][td]Dubai (DSC) [/td][td]Oct-16 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]H Sutcliffe (ENG) [/td][td]115 [/td][td]45.27 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Sydney [/td][td]Dec-24 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]S Dhawan (INDIA) [/td][td]115 [/td][td]54.5 [/td][td]v New Zealand [/td][td]Auckland [/td][td]Feb-14 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]C Washbrook (ENG) [/td][td]114 [/td][td]- [/td][td]v West Indies [/td][td]Lord's [/td][td]Jun-50 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]GN Yallop (AUS) [/td][td]114 [/td][td]91.2 [/td][td]v England [/td][td]Manchester [/td][td]Aug-81 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]RR Pant (INDIA) [/td][td]114 [/td][td]78.08 [/td][td]v England [/td][td]The Oval [/td][td]Sep-18 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]RA McLean (SA) [/td][td]113 [/td][td]- [/td][td]v New Zealand [/td][td]Cape Town [/td][td]Jan-62 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]GS Sobers (WI) [/td][td]113 [/td][td]89.68 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Sydney [/td][td]Feb-69 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]SM Gavaskar (INDIA) [/td][td]113 [/td][td]42.8 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Brisbane [/td][td]Dec-77 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AJ Lamb (ENG) [/td][td]113 [/td][td]53.3 [/td][td]v West Indies [/td][td]Lord's [/td][td]Jun-88 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]SL Campbell (WI) [/td][td]113 [/td][td]34.55 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Brisbane [/td][td]Nov-96 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AA Baig (INDIA) [/td][td]112 [/td][td]- [/td][td]v England [/td][td]Manchester [/td][td]Jul-59 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]ST Jayasuriya (SL) [/td][td]112 [/td][td]59.57 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Adelaide [/td][td]Jan-96 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]IJL Trott (ENG) [/td][td]112 [/td][td]42.1 [/td][td]v Sri Lanka [/td][td]Galle [/td][td]Mar-12 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DA Warner (AUS) [/td][td]112 [/td][td]82.96 [/td][td]v Bangladesh [/td][td]Dhaka [/td][td]Aug-17 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Asad Shafiq (PAK) [/td][td]112 [/td][td]63.63 [/td][td]v Sri Lanka [/td][td]Dubai (DSC) [/td][td]Oct-17 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]M Leyland (ENG) [/td][td]111* [/td][td]52.35 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Melbourne [/td][td]Jan-37 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]H Masakadza (ZIM) [/td][td]111* [/td][td]44.04 [/td][td]v Bangladesh [/td][td]Harare [/td][td]Apr-13 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]RB Kanhai (WI) [/td][td]110 [/td][td]- [/td][td]v England [/td][td]Port of Spain [/td][td]Jan-60 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]PV Simmons (WI) [/td][td]110 [/td][td]61.79 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Melbourne [/td][td]Dec-92 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AD Mathews (SL) [/td][td]110 [/td][td]45.83 [/td][td]v India [/td][td]Colombo (SSC) [/td][td]Aug-15 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Mohammad Wasim (PAK) [/td][td]109* [/td][td]66.06 [/td][td]v New Zealand [/td][td]Lahore [/td][td]Nov-96 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AB Agarkar (INDIA) [/td][td]109* [/td][td]57.36 [/td][td]v England [/td][td]Lord's [/td][td]Jul-02 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]MM Ali (ENG) [/td][td]108* [/td][td]38.43 [/td][td]v Sri Lanka [/td][td]Leeds [/td][td]Jun-14 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]CJL Rogers (AUS) [/td][td]107 [/td][td]45.14 [/td][td]v South Africa [/td][td]Port Elizabeth [/td][td]Feb-14 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]FC Hayes (ENG) [/td][td]106* [/td][td]45.29 [/td][td]v West Indies [/td][td]The Oval [/td][td]Jul-73 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]APE Knott (ENG) [/td][td]106* [/td][td]51.7 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Adelaide [/td][td]Jan-75 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]BRM Taylor (ZIM) [/td][td]106* [/td][td]63.47 [/td][td]v Bangladesh [/td][td]Dhaka [/td][td]Nov-18 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]M Azharuddin (INDIA) [/td][td]106 [/td][td]65.43 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Adelaide [/td][td]Jan-92 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Junaid Siddique (BDESH) [/td][td]106 [/td][td]36.3 [/td][td]v England [/td][td]Chattogram [/td][td]Mar-10 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JC Buttler (ENG) [/td][td]106 [/td][td]60.22 [/td][td]v India [/td][td]Nottingham [/td][td]Aug-18 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]AR Border (AUS) [/td][td]105 [/td][td]38.18 [/td][td]v Pakistan [/td][td]Melbourne [/td][td]Mar-79 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]DPMD Jayawardene (SL) [/td][td]105 [/td][td]45.45 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Galle [/td][td]Aug-11 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]JB Stollmeyer (WI) [/td][td]104 [/td][td]- [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Sydney [/td][td]Jan-52 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]RL Chase (WI) [/td][td]102* [/td][td]53.4 [/td][td]v England [/td][td]Gros Islet [/td][td]Feb-19 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]HW Taylor (SA) [/td][td]102 [/td][td]- [/td][td]v England [/td][td]Durban [/td][td]Feb-23 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]BKG Mendis (SL) [/td][td]102 [/td][td]48.57 [/td][td]v West Indies [/td][td]Port of Spain [/td][td]Jun-18 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]RL Chase (WI) [/td][td]101* [/td][td]42.25 [/td][td]v Pakistan [/td][td]Roseau [/td][td]May-17 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]ML Jaisimha (INDIA) [/td][td]101 [/td][td]- [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Brisbane [/td][td]Jan-68 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]IVA Richards (WI) [/td][td]101 [/td][td]74.26 [/td][td]v Australia [/td][td]Adelaide [/td][td]Jan-76 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Mohammad Ashraful (BDESH) [/td][td]101 [/td][td]52.33 [/td][td]v Sri Lanka [/td][td]Dhaka [/td][td]Dec-08 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Mushfiqur Rahim (BDESH) [/td][td]101 [/td][td]88.59 [/td][td]v India [/td][td]Chattogram [/td][td]Jan-10 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]TB de Bruyn (SA) [/td][td]101 [/td][td]43.53 [/td][td]v Sri Lanka [/td][td]Colombo (SSC) [/td][td]Jul-18 [/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Shakib Al Hasan (BDESH) [/td][td]100 [/td][td]77.51 [/td][td]v New Zealand [/td][td]Hamilton [/td][td]Feb-10 [/td][/tr]
[/table]
 
It has to be Sachin Tendulkar. I watched the game live and it was a phenomenal innings. The bowling attack of Pakistan had Saqlain, Wasim and Waqar and India were 82/5 with all the batsmen back in the hut. Also Nathan Astle's 222 was amazing and almost made England sweat for what was termed as an improbable chase.
 
Out of the games that I have watched Live on TV , it has to be the innings Sachin Tendulkar played against Pakistan. I was only 14 then and I still remember till date how every one at home thought that the game was in the bag once India was reduced to 82/5 and Sachin was left with nayan Mongai who was kind of a walking wicket against the bowling attack we had but he hung on with Sachin and almost took India home. We kept hoping that wicket will fall this over or the next over and it just didn't happen until Mongai had that brain fade moment and he decided to take wasim on and hit him over mid-on only to top-edge it to Waqar who was stationed at mid-on and then sachin fell to saqi's magical doosra and that was the end of it for India.
 
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