Successful 190+ fourth-innings chases at Lord’s: A rare but rising trend

Chasing a target over 190 in the fourth innings at Lord’s has historically been a difficult task in Test cricket, with only six teams managing to achieve the feat before the ongoing India-England clash in 2025. However, recent years have seen a shift, with three such successful chases recorded in the last three years alone.

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The highest successful chase at Lord’s remains West Indies’ 344/1 against England in 1984 — a dominant performance led by the legendary batting lineup. England successfully chased 282/3 against New Zealand in 2004, followed by New Zealand achieving 279/5 in 2022, again versus England.

In a significant recent result, South Africa chased 282/5 against Australia just last month (June 2025), claiming their first-ever World Test Championship title on a relatively benign final-day surface.

Other notable successful chases include England’s 218/3 in 1965, 193/5 in 2012, and 191/8 in 2000 — the latter two both against West Indies.

Historically, teams have struggled with deteriorating pitches at Lord’s in the fourth innings, with variable bounce and spin making run chases difficult. However, modern batting depth and flatter final-day pitches in some matches have helped tilt the balance in favor of batters, especially in high-stakes contests.