what is the record for the highest successful fourth-innings chase at the MCG?

Just one day left in the game, the fourth test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is getting very exciting. It's happening at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) between India and Australia; to win, India has to get more than 300 runs and Australia's goal is to take all 10 of India's wickets.

Pat Cummins' team was leading until Day 4's afternoon but then Jasprit Bumrah turned things around for India. Before this, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith were unremarkably dominating the game. However, Steve Smith got out when Mohammed Siraj caught him off guard, making him hit an outward delivery to the fielder. Right after Smith hit the bench, Bumrah started his magic. Bumrah first took Travis Head, who had scored more runs than anyone else in the series and then Mitchell Marsh fell to him in that same over. Bumrah didn't stop there; he came back and sent a Alex Carey to bench, making the scoreboard 91/6 for Australia.

India, having a strong team of bowlers, believes they have a good chance in the fourth innings; the game's still not decided, even after Australia scored about 100 more runs; This moment really brings to mind that bizarre event at the MCG in 1928. England made history then by chasing down 332 runs in the final innings and won by three wickets, marking the highest successful fourth-innings run chase in Test cricket ever.

England's Historic Fourth Innings Chase at the MCG (1928):

Australia went up to bat first in the third test of the series and managed to score a solid 397 runs; the high points of their innings were hundreds scored by Allan Kippax (100) and team captain Jack Ryder (112). Don Bradman also did his part hitting 79 runs off 220 balls. After them, England took their turn and scored a little higher 417 to be exact, ahead by just 20 runs in their first innings. For England, Wally Hammond was doing very well, hitting a really big 200 runs which took him 472 balls and included 17 fours. On the bowling side for Australia, Maurice Tate and Harold Larwood each took two players out, George Geary took three wickets.

Australia put up a tough number for England to chase, aiming for a win with a target of 332 runs. In their second innings, they managed 351 thanks to some solid playing. Bill Woodfull was really steady, hitting 107 off 309 balls, while Bradman came through with an important 112 from 281 balls, making seven boundaries before Geary got him out.

England was currently facing a tough challenge but they still managed to get a important victory. With a solid start from Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe, they quickly put up 105 runs for the opening partnership. However, Hobbs got out just of 50 runs. Even after Hobbs's dismissal, Sutcliffe, along with Douglas Jardine and Hammond, continued to help England do well. Sutcliffe played a great game, hitting 135 runs off 462 balls before he was out. At that point, England was near to winning, needing only 14 more runs with 318 on the board but all of a sudden, they lost three players very quickly, adding only two runs. Even though this problem happened, England kept trying. They achieved the target, winning by three wickets. This victory was important because it was the highest successful run chase in the fourth innings at the MCG.

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