The Fast and the Furiously Slow

A few days ago, Surrey and Worcestershire contested an extraordinary match - packed full of runs, rain and declarations. Building on a first-innings lead of 148, Surrey were gifted 136 for 3 off 8.2 overs and set Worcestershire 285 to get from 62 possible overs. At 95 for no loss in the ninth over, rain threatened to ruin a gripping contest but play eventually resumed with the overs reduced to 32. Worcestershire, however, were not to be denied and completed a breakneck run-chase with one ball to spare. This week, the List features the highest and lowest rates of scoring in Tests and one-day internationals.

Would you have expected Vivian Richards to rate a half-century over several high-profile hundreds as his best innings? The occasion was the first Test against India at Sabina Park in 1983. After a dreary first four days, Andy Roberts triggered an Indian collapse that left West Indies with 172 to win in 26 overs. Richards, who had to take pain-killers for a broken thumb, clobbered 61 off 36 balls and by the end of it, West Indies had scored at 6.82 runs per over to win with four balls to spare.

Australia have the fastest run-rate for a completed Test innings but their 296 in 51 overs against South Africa in 1902 wasn't enough to avoid the follow on. They didn't match their scorching first-innings pace the second time around, but 372 for 7 at 4.76 an over was enough to ensure a draw.

Fastest team run rate in a Test innings (qualification: 60 balls)

Team	Score	Overs	Rp6B	Inns	Opposition	Result	Ground	Season	Scorecard
India	97/1d	13.0	7.46	3	v Eng	drawn	Kanpur	1984/85	Test 1011
West Indies	76/0	11.0	6.90	4	v Eng	won	Kingston	1947/48	Test 298
West Indies	173/6	25.2	6.82	4	v India	won	Kingston	1982/83	Test 949
South Africa	340/3d	50.0	6.79	2	v Zimb	won	Cape Town	2004/05	Test 1737
West Indies	129/1	19.0	6.78	4	v Eng	won	Leeds	1995	Test 1298
Pakistan	164/2	24.5	6.60	4	v India	won	Karachi	1978/79	Test 833
England	99/3	15.0	6.59	4	v WI	won	Port of Spain	2003/04	Test 1690
West Indies	154/1	24.5	6.20	4	v Pak	drawn	Georgetown	1976/77	Test 801
Pakistan	128/2	20.4	6.19	4	v India	won	Lahore	1978/79	Test 832
England	109/7	17.4	6.16	4	v Pak	drawn	Birmingham	1987	Test 1078
Australia	84/2d	14.0	6.00	3	v NZ	drawn	Brisbane	2001/02	Test 1565
West Indies	75/0	12.4	5.92	4	v Zimb	won	Kingston	1999/00	Test 1492
Australia	172/1	29.1	5.89	4	v Zimb	won	Sydney	2003/04	Test 1663
Pakistan	98/0	16.4	5.87	4	v SL	won	Karachi	1985/86	Test 1028
Pakistan	77/0	13.1	5.84	4	v Eng	won	Lord's	1982	Test 932

Few would have expected the final Test between England and South Africa at Port Elizabeth in 1949 to end in a result. England gained a 16-run lead as their first innings ended on the final morning. However, South Africa were trailing 0-1 in the series and had to force a result. They made a sporting declaration on 187 for 3, setting England a target of 172. At 124 for 2, England were coasting but then they lost three wickets for one run. Eventually, Jack Crapp steered them to a three-wicket win with a run-rate of 5.46 in the final innings.

Australia also hold the record for slowest run-rate in a win. They took 80 four-ball overs to score 63 in the first innings of the Test that started the Ashes at The Oval in 1882. Even at that time, the rivalry was intense as proven by WG Grace's less than sporting run-out of Sammy Jones. After taking a 38-run lead, England were set a target of 85 to win. Fred Spofforth then went about destroying England with 7 for 44, to follow up his first-innings haul of 7 for 46, and Australia won by seven runs.

Slowest team run rate in a Test innings (qualification: 60 balls)

Team	Score	Overs	Rp6B	Inns	Opposition	Result	Ground	Season	Scorecard
Australia	27/5	38.1	0.70	4	v Eng	drawn	The Oval	1956	Test 429
New Zealand	69/6	90.0	0.76	3	v Pak	drawn	Dhaka	1955/56	Test 415
New Zealand	26	27.0	0.96	3	v Eng	lost	Auckland	1954/55	Test 402
New Zealand	17/1	17.0	1.00	3	v WI	drawn	Auckland	1951/52	Test 350
New Zealand	48/8	48.0	1.00	4	v Eng	drawn	Christchurch	1965/66	Test 602
India	187	185.3	1.00	3	v WI	lost	Bridgetown	1961/62	Test 527
Pakistan	87	83.5	1.03	1	v Eng	drawn	Lord's	1954	Test 387
Australia	14/0	13.0	1.07	2	v Eng	drawn	Manchester	1912	Test 126
New Zealand	42	39.0	1.07	1	v Aust	lost	Wellington	1945/46	Test 275
South Africa	72	50.1x8	1.07	4	v Eng	lost	Cape Town	1956/57	Test 435
New Zealand	67	59.1	1.13	1	v Eng	lost	Leeds	1958	Test 456
New Zealand	124	108.3	1.14	3	v Pak	lost	Karachi	1955/56	Test 413
New Zealand	16/1	14.0	1.14	4	v Aust	drawn	Christchurch	1985/86	Test 1038
Australia	63	80.0x4	1.18	1	v Eng	won	The Oval	1882	Test 9
New Zealand	74	62.2	1.18	1	v WI	lost	Dunedin	1955/56	Test 421

If you're the kind of person who loved the `greatest ODI ever' at Johannesburg for the fours and sixes, you'd have had a snooze at the third final between West Indies and Pakistan at Port-of-Spain in April 2000. After much huffing and puffing, Pakistan reached their target of 116 in the 46th over, the run rate of 2.57 being the slowest in a one-day victory.

Slowest team run rate in a ODI innings (qualification: 60 balls)

Team	Score	Overs	Rp6B	Inns	Opposition	Result	Ground	Season	Scorecard
Canada	45	40.3	1.11	1	v Eng	lost	Manchester	1979	ODI 67
Pakistan	81	48.0	1.68	2	v WI	lost	Sydney	1992/93	ODI 782
New Zealand	64	35.5	1.78	1	v Pak	lost	Sharjah	1985/86	ODI 384
East Africa	94	52.3	1.79	2	v Eng	lost	Birmingham	1975	ODI 27
Pakistan	85	47.0	1.80	2	v Eng	lost	Manchester	1978	ODI 50
Pakistan	74	40.2	1.83	1	v Eng	noresult	Adelaide	1991/92	ODI 726
England	88	46.1	1.90	1	v SL	lost	Dambulla	2003/04	ODI 2063
Canada	36	18.4	1.92	1	v SL	lost	Paarl	2002/03	ODI 1958
Sri Lanka	55	28.3	1.92	2	v WI	lost	Sharjah	1986/87	ODI 405
Pakistan	28/3	14.3	1.93	1	v India	noresult	Karachi	1989/90	ODI 594
Zimbabwe	35	18.0	1.94	1	v SL	lost	Harare	2004	ODI 2122
England	26/1	13.0	2.00	2	v WI	noresult	Port of Spain	1989/90	ODI 604
India	54	26.3	2.03	2	v SL	lost	Sharjah	2000/01	ODI 1652
East Africa	128/8	60.0	2.13	2	v NZ	lost	Birmingham	1975	ODI 20
Scotland	68	31.3	2.15	1	v WI	lost	Leicester	1999	ODI 1465