South Africa are taking on Australia in the first Test of the three-match series at Kingsmead in Durban these days. The hosts finished the fourth day’s play at 102/4 in their pursuit of the 421-run target. South Africa still need 319 runs on the fifth and final day to beat Australia and take a 1-0 lead in the series, but they have only six wickets in hand.
The Proteas have never lost a Test match under Temba Bavuma’s captaincy, and it will take a big batting effort from the hosts on Tuesday (October 13) to preserve that record.
In the 149-year history of Test cricket, no team has ever chased down a target of more than 420 runs. If South Africa manage to score 421 runs on Tuesday, they will create a world record for the highest successful run chase in
Test cricket.
As of now the record for the highest successful run chase in Tests belongs to the West Indies. The Caribbean side chased down a target of 418 runs against Australia in St John’s in May 2003 to secure a three-wicket victory.
Highest run chases in Tests
| TEAM | SCORE | OVERS | TARGET | AGAINST | VENUE | START DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 418/7 | 128.5 | 418 | Australia | St John’s | May 9, 2003 |
| South Africa | 414/4 | 119.2 | 414 | Australia | Perth (WACA) | December 17, 2008 |
| Australia | 404/3 | 114.1 | 404 | England | Leeds | July 22, 1948 |
| India | 406/4 | 147.0 | 403 | West Indies | Port of Spain | April 7, 1976 |
| West Indies | 395/7 | 127.3 | 395 | Bangladesh | Chattogram | February 3, 2021 |
| Sri Lanka | 391/6 | 114.5 | 388 | Zimbabwe | Colombo (RPS) | July 14, 2017 |
| India | 387/4 | 98.3 | 387 | England | Chennai | December 11, 2008 |
| England | 378/3 | 76.4 | 378 | India | Birmingham | July 1, 2022 |
| Pakistan | 382/3 | 103.1 | 377 | Sri Lanka | Pallekele | July 3, 2015 |
| England | 373/5 | 82.0 | 371 | India | Leeds | June 20, 2025 |
So far, only four times has a team successfully chased down a target of more than 400 runs in the fourth innings to win a Test match.
South Africa’s highest successful run chase in Tests stands at 414 runs, which they achieved against Australia at the WACA in Perth in December 2008.
South Africa’s highest run chases in Tests
| Score | Overs | TARGET | AGAINST | VENUE | START DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 414/4 | 119.2 | 414 | Australia | Perth (WACA) | December 17, 2008 |
| 340/5 | 104.5 | 335 | Australia | Durban | March 15, 2002 |
| 297/4 | 95.5×8 | 295 | Australia | Melbourne | February 6, 1953 |
| 287/9 | 112.5 | 284 | England | Johannesburg | January 2, 1906 |
| 282/5 | 83.4 | 282 | Australia | Lord’s | June 11, 2025 |
| 283/5 | 80.0 | 281 | England | Birmingham | July 30, 2008 |
| 243/3 | 67.4 | 240 | India | Johannesburg | January 3, 2022 |
| 236/2 | 50.2 | 236 | Australia | Cape Town | November 9, 2011 |
| 234/4 | 72.2 | 234 | New Zealand | Wellington | March 26, 2004 |
| 226/4 | 62.5 | 226 | Sri Lanka | Centurion | March 27, 1998 |
The highest successful run chase in a Test played in South Africa is 336 runs, a record held by Australia. The Aussies chased down a target of 336 against South Africa at Kingsmead in January 1950.
Highest run chases in Tests in South Africa
| TEAM | SCORE | OVERS | TARGET | AGAINST | VENUE | START DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 336/5 | 123.6×8 | 336 | South Africa | Durban | January 20, 1950 |
| South Africa | 340/5 | 104.5 | 335 | Australia | Durban | March 15, 2002 |
| Australia | 334/6 | 79.1 | 331 | South Africa | Cape Town | March 8, 2002 |
| Australia | 310/8 | 86.5 | 310 | South Africa | Johannesburg | November 17, 2011 |
| Sri Lanka | 304/9 | 85.3 | 304 | South Africa | Durban | February 13, 2019 |
| Australia | 294/8 | 91.4 | 292 | South Africa | Johannesburg | March 31, 2006 |
| South Africa | 287/9 | 112.5 | 284 | England | Johannesburg | January 2, 1906 |
| Australia | 271/8 | 93.3 | 270 | South Africa | Gqeberha | March 14, 1997 |
| England | 251/8 | 75.1 | 249 | South Africa | Centurion | January 14, 2000 |
| South Africa | 243/3 | 67.4 | 240 | India | Johannesburg | January 3, 2022 |
For South Africa, Aiden Markram will be a key batter on the fifth day. He was unbeaten on 45 off 115 balls at the end of Day 4. Markram last played a Test for South Africa against Australia in June 2025. In that match, played at Lord’s, he scored a century in the fourth innings to help the Proteas win the 2025 WTC final.
