Wanderers Test: Faf du Plessis master of 4th innings chases

South Africa almost did the impossible at the Wanderers.

The hosts were given a fourth innings target of 458 by India in the first Test. In the entire history of Test cricket a fourth innings target of 400 had been chased down only four times, the highest being 418 for 7 by the West Indies against Australia at St. John’s in 2003.

- Scorecard

When the match ended, South Africa were just eight runs short of what would have been a phenomenal victory!

The first Test will now go down as one of the closest draws in Test history.

Take a look at Rajneesh Gupta's statistics below, compiled from the batting sides’ perspective.

Closest draws in Test cricket

South Africa’s total (450-7) is the third highest total by any side in the fourth innings of a Test as is detailed below:

Highest fourth innings totals in Test cricket

Highest fourth innings successful chases in Test cricket

Faf du Plessis seems to be a master of fourth innings chases. On his Test debut he batted for seven hours 46 minutes against Australia at Adelaide in 2012-13, saving South Africa from certain defeat.

On Sunday, he batted for more than six-and-a-half hours at the Wanderers to take South Africa almost through.

Indeed, Faf du Plessis is the first South African to bat for more than six hours in the fourth innings of a Test on two occasions. His 134 is now the highest individual score by any batsman against India in the fourth innings of a Test.

Image: Faf du Plessis

Photograph: Duif du Toit/Gallo Images/Getty Images