Stats: 3 teams scoring 400+ runs after losing two wickets for zero in Tests

Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja (Source: Getty Images)

The recent Manchester Test between England and India ended as a draw but turned out to an incredible contest for various reasons. There were quite a few milestones attained across the contest like Joe Root surpassing Ricky Ponting in Test cricket’s all-time run-scoring charts to become the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket and Ben Stokes achieving the rare double of a five-wicket haul and a ton in the same Test.

However, what drew immense praise was the manner in which India batted, playing out time and securing a draw despite having lost two wickets with nothing on the board. There have been only three instances, including the recent one of India in Manchester, when a team has scored 400+ runs after losing two wickets for zero.

Let’s look at the three teams that scored 400+ runs after losing two wickets for zero (as of July 2025):

3. West Indies – 443/7d vs India (1958)

West Indies were reeling under pressure against India after losing John Holt and Conrad Hunte for ducks. Notably, both the teams ended up scoring 222 in the first innings. There were a couple of partnerships (fifth and sixth) which stood out involving Garry Sobers.

Having scored only four runs in the first innings, Sobers came up with a standout display to register his fifth hundred in five Tests before being run-out on 198. Joe Solomon was another teammate of Sobers who was dismissed via a run-out while being 14 runs away from his ton.

The Windies ultimately declared at 443/7 in 127 overs. Being set a target of 444, India started off well with Pankaj Roy and Nari Contractor opening the batting. However, their dismissals meant the Indians could never forge another substantial partnership to end up losing by 203 runs.

2. India – 451/8d vs West Indies (1983)

Malcolm Marshall made an immediate impact with the ball during India’s first innings, dismissing both Aunshuman Gaekwad and Dilip Vengsarkar in his second over off consecutive balls. Sunil Gavaskar arrived in the middle after both the batters were brilliantly caught at third slip. Gavaskar ended up unbeaten on 236, as India declared after eclipsing the 450-run mark.

The most prominent of the records which were broken in a rain-affected match was Gavaskar’s achievement 30th Test ton. This put him in the lead of the list of century-makers in Test cricket back in the day. He had also surpassed the previous highest score by an Indian in Test cricket during the making of his 236*. In the 644 minutes which Gavaskar batted for, he hit 23 fours and a couple of fives.

The match ended as a draw. However, the match became notable for the several number of records equalled or broken at the time; Marshall equalled the West Indian record for most wickets in a series (33), Kapil Dev became the highest Indian wicket-taker in a series against West Indies (29) being the most noteworthy ones barring the two mentioned in the previous paragraph.

1. India – 425/4 vs England (2025)

It seemed as if India’s boat was sinking fast after Chris Woakes dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal (0 off 4) and Sai Sudharsan (0 off 1) in the very first over of India’s second innings. The visitors were trailing by 311 runs and an innings defeat was definitely on the cards. KL Rahul and Shubman Gill revived the innings after the early setbacks. They ensured there was no further damage to the wickets column throughout the fourth day.

The dismissals of Rahul (90 off 230) and the skipper (103 off 238) on the final day’s play meant Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja were at the crease in a bid to save the blushes for India. Although approaching their initial phase of their innings with measured composure and not scoring too many, especially Sundar, the spin-bowling all-rounders ensured no wicket fell throughout the remainder of the day.

Both teams shook hands after Sundar (101* off 206) and Jadeja (107* off 185) brought up their respective centuries. The two had been a part of one of the greatest escapes from what seemed certain of a thumping defeat. English captain Ben Stokes was awarded the Player of the Match accolade after his all-round effort (5/72 in 24 overs, 141 off 198, 1/33 in 11 overs).

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