Generally, posting a massive score in a test match innings would help seal the victory or at least ensure the team avoids defeat due to the high score also involving a lot of overs, and the match go on to become a draw. However, in some instances, the teams still lose due to exceptional cases. For example, the team scores very low in the other innings, or the opponent also scores high, and so on. We will now have a look at the highest team scores in a test match innings in losing cause.
1. Bangladesh (2017)
Bangladesh getting bowled out for 160 in the second innings led them to lose the match, but early on in the first innings, they posted nearly 600 runs when the captain Mushfiqur Rahim put up 159 and Shakib Al Hasan scored 217. Shakib’s score was the highest by a Bangladeshi batsman then, but in the end, it was all in vain. Bangladesh scored 595 in this innings.
2. Australia (1894)
There have been only three instances in test cricket where a team enforced the follow-on and still lost the match. This was one of those instances. Australia failed to chase a target of 177 and lost by 10 runs. Early on in the first innings, before enforcing a follow-on, Australia had secured a 261-run lead. This was due to a substantial first innings total they posted, thanks to a double century from Syd Gregory. Australia scored 586 in this innings.
3. Pakistan (1972)
Pakistan’s 570+ score in this match couldn’t save them against, Australia scoring 400+ in each innings. Pakistan got all out for 200 chasing a target of 293. In the first innings, Pakistan had scored big, with due help from the two centurions, Sadiq Mohammad and Majid Khan. Pakistan scored 574 in this innings.
4. Australia (2003)
Australia lost this match in the final innings when Rahul Dravid guided India safely in a tricky target of 230. Early on, however, in the first innings Ricky Ponting scored 242, and Simon Katich scored 75 to ensure Australia put up a considerable total. Australia scored 556 in this innings.
5. Bangladesh (2012)
This match had West Indies scoring 527 in the first innings. In reply, Bangladesh managed to achieve a slight lead. But the fact that they had to bat last proved fatal as Bangladesh could not manage to score the target of 245 and lost the match. In the first innings, though, Bangladesh had a centurion, and two other batsmen coming close to centuries. Bangladesh scored 556 in this innings.
6. New Zealand (2022)
This game was the second match of a 3-match series for New Zealand against England, and New Zealand was trailing 0-1. New Zealand secured slender first innings lead in this match against England. They set a big target of 299 for England, but Johnny Bairstow made light work of it with his 92-ball 136. In the first innings, New Zealand had put up a 550+ score which eventually proved useless as they lost the match and the series. New Zealand scored 553 in this innings.
7. England (2006)
England is usually a poor team, when it comes to playing the Ashes in Australia. Their troubles continued in this match when Paul Collingwood’s double hundred helped England to a 550+ score, and yet England managed to lose the game due to their second innings. England scored 551 in this innings.
8. Sri Lanka (1992)
The match started off well in the first innings for Sri Lanka. They secured a 291-run first innings lead. However, they thoroughly lost the plot in the next innings when they let Australia score 471 and failed to chase a target of 181, losing the match by 16 runs. In Sri Lanka’s first innings, they had three batsmen, including their captain Arjuna Ranatunga putting up centuries. Sri Lanka scored 547 in this innings.
9. Pakistan (2006)
This game was a pretty high-scoring game, with both the teams scoring 500+ in the first innings and England scoring 345 in their second innings. However, the English bowlers Sajid Mahmood and Monty Panesar took the bulk of wickets in the final innings to ensure Pakistan got bowled out cheap and England won comfortably. In Pakistan’s first innings, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf had a 363-run partnership and helped Pakistan post a considerable score. Pakistan scored 538 in this innings.
10. India (2008)
Anyone who watched this game live, would have never forgotten it. There were lots of sledging and other controversies. In terms of gameplay, the final few minutes of the game were really breathtaking. India was chasing a target of 333 and was 210-7 with just two overs remaining in the game. Michael Clarke, a part time bowler, came in, to bowl his second over of the innings, and the Indian tailenders all gifted their wickets to him, and hence, Australia snatched an unlikely victory. In the first innings of the batting, though, India was excellent. Sachin Tendulkar scored a 150, and VVS Laxman scored a century, and India posted a 500+ score. India scored 532 in this innings.
