Top 5 highest successful run chases at The Oval, London in test cricket

Only six times a target over 200 has been chased successfully in test cricket at The Oval, London.

England Cricket Team are one of the oldest and dominant teams in test cricket. Particularly in home conditions, they are pretty solid and haven’t allowed the oppositions to take the front seat on majority of the occasions.

The Oval in London, which is one of the popular cricket stadiums in world and hosts many international games every year, has seen England registering many famous wins, especially in the longest format of the game.

England have an impressive record in test cricket at The Oval. They have played 106 test matches at the venue so far, winning 45 games and losing 24 encounters. 37 matches ended in a draw. The Oval is considered a good-scoring ground in test cricket. England also scored their highest ever total in test cricket – 903/7 at the venue.

Only six times so far a target above 200 has been chased successfully at The Oval in London with the most recent one coming in 2024. On that note, let’s take a look at the top five highest successful run-chases at The Oval, London in test cricket.

Top 5 highest successful run chases at The Oval, London in test cricket

5. Sri Lanka – 219/2 vs England (2024)

In the third test match of the series against England in 2024, Sri Lanka chased down a 219-run target. The hosts piled up 325/10 in the first innings with a century by Ollie Pope.

Later, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 263 runs in the first innings with half-centuries by Pathum Nissanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Kamindu Mendis. Sri Lanka then bowled out the hosts for just 156 runs in the second innings, with Jamie Smith hitting a half-century.

Later, they chased down the 219-run target by eight wickets with an unbeaten ton by Pathum Nissanka. England won the three-match test series 2-1.

4. West Indies – 226/2 vs England (1988)

The West Indies and England clashed at The Oval during the fifth and final test of the series in 1988. In the first innings, England were bowled out for 205 runs with a half-century by Robin Smith.

Later, they bowled out the West Indies for 183 runs, with a five-wicket haul by Neil Foster and a three-wicket haul by Derek Pringle. In the second innings, skipper Graham Gooch powered England to 202/10 with his 84-run knock, setting a target of 225 runs for the visitors

The West Indies openers Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes scored 77 runs each to drive the team to victory by eight wickets.

3. Australia – 242/5 vs England (1972)

The last test of Ashes 1972 was played at The Oval. Opting to bat first, England posted 284/10 in the first innings with half-centuries by Peter Parfitt and Alan Knott.

Australia then piled up a gigantic total of 399/10 in the first innings with centuries by captain Ian Chappell and Greg Chappell. England posted 356/10 in the second innings with Barry Wood’s 90 runs, setting a 242-run target for the visitors.

Keith Stackpole (79) scored a half-century, while Paul Sheahan (44*) and Rod Marsh (43*) hit crucial knocks to power Australia to victory by five wickets during the tricky chase.

2. West Indies – 255/2 vs England (1963)

West Indies chased down a 253-run target against England during a test match at The Oval in 1963. England opted to bat first in the game and were bowled out for 275 runs in the first innings, with a half-century by Phil Sharpe.

Charlie Griffith scalped a six-wicket haul to demolish England batters. However, the West Indies were bowled out for 246 runs in the first innings, with Conrad Hunte and Basil Butcher hitting fifties.

West Indies then bowled out England for 223 runs in the second innings, with a four-wicket haul by Wes Hall, setting themselves a target of 253 runs. Later, opener Conrad Hunte hammered an unbeaten century to propel his team to victory by eight wickets.

1. England- 263/9 vs Australia (1902)

England hold the record for the highest successful run-chase at The Oval, which dates back to 1902. England and Australia clashed at the venue in fifth and last test of the series. Opting to bat first, Australia posted 324/10 in the first innings, with fifties by Monty Noble and Hugh Trumble.

George Hirst took a five-wicket haul. Later, Australia bowled out the hosts for just 183 runs, with an incredible eight-wicket haul by Hugh Trumble. In the second innings, England bundled out Australia for 121 runs as Bill Lockwood captured a fifer.

England had a challenging target of 263 runs in the second innings. They lost their top four batters for single digits. However, Gilbert Jessop slammed a ton while George Hirst scored an unbeaten fifty to power England to a thrilling victory by just one wicket.

(All stats updated till 2nd August, 2025)

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