Test matches that stand out in memory are very often the ones that are closely-fought. There is little that seperates the vanquished from the victor; in its own own way, Test cricket gains the most.
There are many matches that come to mind, like the Test between the West Indies and Australia at Adelaide in 1992-93, when the men from the Carribbean Islands won by a solitary run.
Our statistician, Rajneesh Gupta, presents the narrowest victories in Test cricket.
The details:
Margin | Match details | Venue | Season |
1 | WI (252 & 146) beat Aus (213 & 184) | Adelaide | 1992-93 |
3 | Aus (299 & 86) beat Eng (262 & 120) | Manchester | 1902 |
3 | Eng (284 & 294) beat Aus (287 & 288) | Melbourne | 1982-83 |
5 | SA (169 & 239) beat Aus (292 & 111) | Sydney | 1993-94 |
6 | Aus (181 & 165) beat Eng (133 & 207) | Sydney | 1884-85 |
7 | Aus (63 & 122) beat Eng (101 & 77) | The Oval | 1882 |
7 | SA (253 & 231) beat SL (308 & 169) | Kandy | 2000 |
10 | Eng (325 & 437) beat Aus (586 & 166) | Sydney | 1894-95 |
11 | Aus (489 & 250) beat Eng (365 & 363) | Adelaide | 1924-25 |
12 | Eng (334 & 383) beat Aus (369 & 336) | Adelaide | 1928-29 |
12 | Eng (270 & 244) beat Aus (340 & 162) | Melbourne | 1998-99 |
12 | Pak (238 & 286) beat Ind (254 & 258) | Chennai | 1998-99 |
13 | Eng (45 & 184) beat Aus (119 & 97) | Sydney | 1886-87 |
13 | Ind (104 & 205) beat Aus (203 & 93) | Mumbai WS | 2004-05 |
16 | Aus (166 & 327) beat Ind (153 & 324) | Brisbane | 1977-78 |
16 | Pak (116 & 249) beat Ind (145 & 204) | Bangalore | 1986-87 |
16 | Aus (256 & 471) beat SL (547-8d & 164) | Colombo (SSC) | 1992 |
17 | SA (340 & 142) beat Eng (251 & 214) | Johannesburg | 1956-57 |
18 | Eng (174 & 356) beat Aus (401-9d & 111) | Leeds | 1981 |
19 | SA (208 & 345) beat Eng (310 & 224) | Johannesburg | 1909-10 |
19 | Eng (180 & 163) beat Aus (220 & 104) | The Oval | 1997 |
Australia chasing a victory target of only 107 were bowled out for a paltry 93.
This is now the third lowest target in Test history that a side failed to achieve. The accompanying table lists instances of sides losing match when requiring 150 or less to win the match.
Target | Made | Country | Venue | Year | Result |
85 | 77 | England | The Oval | 1882 | Australia won by 7 Runs |
99 | 63 | Zimbabwe | Port-of-Spain | 1999-00 | West Indies won by 35 Runs |
107 | 93 | Australia | Mumbai WS | 2004-05 | India won by 13 runs |
111 | 97 | Australia | Sydney | 1886-87 | England won by 13 Runs |
111 | 44 | Australia | The Oval | 1896 | England won by 66 Runs |
117 | 111 | Australia | Sydney | 1993-94 | South Africa won by 5 Runs |
120 | 81 | India | Bridgetown | 1996-97 | West Indies won by 38 Runs |
124 | 104 | Australia | The Oval | 1997 | England won by 19 Runs |
124 | 62 | England | Lord's | 1888 | Australia won by 61 Runs |
124 | 120 | England | Old Trafford | 1902 | Australia won by 3 Runs |
127 | 93 | New Zealand | Hamilton | 1992-93 | Pakistan won by 33 Runs |
129 | 75 | South Africa | Headingley | 1907 | England won by 53 Runs |
130 | 111 | Australia | Headingley | 1981 | England won by 18 Runs |
132 | 99 | South Africa | Johannesburg | 1898-99 | England won by 32 Runs |
137 | 64 | England | Wellington | 1977-78 | New Zealand won by 72 Runs |
143 | 83 | Australia | Melbourne | 1980-81 | India won by 59 Runs |
146 | 92 | Pakistan | Faisalabad | 1997-98 | South Africa won by 53 Runs |