Australia v Pakistan, 2016-17

At Brisbane, December 15-19, 2016 (day/night). Australia won by 39 runs. Toss: Australia.
During a grim, hail-interrupted penultimate afternoon, the only question was when Pakistan would be dismissed, especially with Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq were out in quick succession. There was no talk of a threat to Test cricket's record run-chase, particularly as they had been so limp for most of the match.

Yet Pakistan spluttered, then smashed, then crept their way to within touching distance of a miracle 490. No one had factored in the persistence of Asad Shafiq and, in the final over of day four's madcap three-hour night session, he went to a thrilling hundred. Equally unexpected was the support he received from Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz and Yasir Shah, the three bowlers who helped add 229 in a series of gritty partnerships. The last of those began on the final day, consumed 22 overs, and eroded the target to 41, before Starc summoned an unplayable ball at Shafiq's throat. Finally he was gone for a personal-best 137, before Yasir ran himself out moments later to end the epic; it was the fourth biggest last-innings total, and the highest in Australia, beating 445 by India at Adelaide in 1977-78.

The sight of the Pakistan fans weeping as they applauded their team reinforced the feeling that this had been the best of the sport. The resistance had begun as Australia's bowlers tired on the fourth night of Brisbane's first floodlit Test. The session had been extended to make up time, and a frustrated Starc hurled abuse at Amir, who held his nerve until edging Bird two short of a maiden fifty.

Pakistan were seven down, and Smith - who dropped two regulation catches - took the extra half-hour; David Saker, Australia's bowling coach, said afterwards he would have preferred the fast bowlers to put their feet up. As midnight approached, Wahab alternated gallant swings with theatrical leaves, in keeping with the chaotic theme, before falling in the last over.

Smith said his anxiety had been triggered with 60 required, as he contemplated the gravity of losing from a position of such strength. After winning the toss, he had enjoyed his 17th Test century as much as the locals - including those in the luxurious pool erected in the western corner of the Gabba - even if it required luck: he was dropped twice, while Amir failed to appeal when he was caught behind on 97. Next day, Handscomb - whose partnership with Smith had been worth 172 - reached a maiden hundred in his second Test. It was met without the customary kiss of the helmet, a hint, perhaps, that he planned regular repeats; his patience and assured strokeplay square of the wicket suggested the same. Opener Renshaw had already hit 71, and their performances brought relief to the selectors who had invested in them after the horror of Hobart against South Africa a month earlier. Wahab and Amir - who finished with a four for, his best Test figures since his return from exile - bounced back, and Smith was the first of six to fall for 57, but a flurry of boundaries from last pair Lyon and Bird ensured a healthy score.

As the lights went on, the pace trio of Starc, Hazlewood and Bird put on a clinic, finding Pakistan edges routinely to reduce them to 67 for eight; only Sarfraz Ahmed's unbeaten 59 dragged the innings into day three. Australia declined the follow-on, favouring rapid runs and recharged bowlers, and the middle order did as they pleased through 39 overs, before Pakistan lost two by the close. Azhar Ali's 71, controlled and defiant, looked futile, as did Younis Khan's twitchy half-century. This match won't be remembered for either, though, nor Starc's second-innings wickets. It will be for when the switch was flicked, and the miracle looked manageable. Not for the result, but the journey - for what nearly was.
Man of the Match: Asad Shafiq.