Scoring 200 runs in the fourth innings of a Test match while trying to win is very rare. Only seven top players have done this difficult task and made history. Here are some players to hit double century while chasing in 4th innings in Tests:
- George Headley (West Indies): George Headley scored 223 not out for West Indies against England in the fourth innings of the 4th Test at Sabina Park, Kingston, in April 1930, while chasing a massive target of 836. The match was affected by rain and England’s early departure, so both captains agreed to a draw. This was the first-ever draw in Test cricket history.
- Bill Edrich (England): Bill Edrich scored 219 runs for England against South Africa in the final innings of a 1939 Test in Durban. He was the second player to score a double century while chasing in a Test’s last innings. His innings showed great endurance and helped England draw the match in a series they won 1-0.
- Sunil Gavaskar (India): Sunil Gavaskar scored 221 runs against England at The Oval in 1979 during a famous Test match. India tried to chase 438 runs but fell just 9 runs short, ending at 429/8. Gavaskar batted for more than eight hours, facing 443 balls. He was finally out caught by David Gower off Ian Botham’s bowling. Gavaskar’s strong and clean batting against top bowlers helped boost India’s confidence abroad, even though the match ended in a draw.
- Gordon Greenidge (West Indies): Gordon Greenidge scored 214 runs without getting out. He faced 242 balls, hitting 29 fours and 2 sixes. This was for the West Indies team against England at Lord’s cricket ground during the second Test match in 1984. His big score helped West Indies successfully chase a target of 342 runs in the last part of the match. They did this in 66.1 overs and lost only one wicket—Desmond Haynes got run out after scoring 17. West Indies won the game by nine wickets. This win was part of a streak where West Indies won 10 Test matches in a row against England.
- Nathan Astle (New Zealand): Nathan Astle scored 222 runs off 168 balls against England in the first Test at Christchurch in March 2002, achieving the fastest double century in Test cricket history (off 153 balls) while chasing 550 in the fourth innings and fourth player to hit double century while chasing in 4th innings in test. This remains the second-highest individual score in a fourth innings of a Test match.
- Kyle Mayers (West Indies): Kyle Mayers scored 210 not out in his first Test match for West Indies against Bangladesh in February 2021. He helped his team chase 395 runs in the fourth innings, winning by three wickets. This was the fifth-highest successful chase in Test cricket and the highest in Asia. Mayers was the first player to make a double century in the fourth innings on debut. He was also the sixth player to score over 200 runs in a Test debut and the second to do so while chasing a target. He faced 310 balls, hitting 20 fours and 7 sixes. He shared an important 216-run partnership with Nkrumah Bonner, who scored 86. Mayers reached his century in 177 balls and his double century after another 123 balls, finishing with a six. West Indies won the match with three wickets left and some overs to spare, leading the series 1-0.
- Justin Greaves (West Indies): Justin Greaves scored an unbeaten 202 runs from 388 balls against New Zealand in the first Test in December 2025. He became the seventh player—and fourth from West Indies—to score a double century while chasing in the fourth innings of a Test match. His long innings helped West Indies reach 457 for 6 while chasing 531 runs. The match ended in a draw. This is the second-highest fourth-innings total ever in Test cricket. Greaves is the first visiting player to score a double century in New Zealand’s fourth innings, and the only one to do it batting at number 6 or lower.
Also Read: Most Runs for New Zealand in Test Cricket
This remains one of cricket’s rarest feats, with only these instances recorded over Test history.
