The longest Test in the history of cricket was played between South Africa and England at Durban in 1939. It is worth mentioning that this was the last timeless Test played in cricket.
The match continued for as many as nine days spread across 12 days before being eventually abandoned as a draw. England would have missed the boat for home had the game gone on till it got the result.
Longest Test Match In Cricket History
The match began on 3rd March 1939 and continued till 14th March 1939. South Africa had batted first in that game and scored a mammoth total of 530 runs on the board.
Skipper Alan Melville and Pieter van der Bijl provided an outstanding start as the duo added 131 runs for the opening wicket. The former got out for 78 runs but Bijl carried on and went on to score a hundred.
He played a sensational knock of 125 runs. Later, Dudley Nourse also notched a ton, while the likes of Eric Dalton (57), and Ronnie Grieveson (75) made valuable contributions as well.
For England, Reg Perks led the charge with the ball as he accumulated 5 wickets for 100 runs in 41 overs. England also produced a decent show with the bat but were folded for 316 runs in the second innings.
Les Ames starred with the bat as he played an 84-run knock, while Eddie Paynter made a valuable contribution of 62 runs. Unfortunately, neither of them went on to score a hundred.
After contributing with the bat, Eric Dalton picked 4 crucial wickets for 59 runs in 13 overs for South Africa. South Africa had already attained a massive lead and they went on to score 481 runs in their second innings.
Bijl came out to open the batting with Bruce Mitchell and the duo added 191 runs for the opening wicket. The former continued his good form, playing another fine knock of 97 runs. Skipper Alan Melville batted at number six and scored a daddy hundred, helping South Africa set England a target of 696 runs to win.
England was up to the task with the bat and got off to a beautiful start. Openers, Leronard Hutton and Paul Gibb put on a 78-run partnership for the opening wicket before the former got out for 55. Gibb then joined hands with Bill Edrich and the duo carried the momentum.
Longest Test Match Ended On A Draw
They notched a 280-run partnership for the second wicket, keeping England’s hopes alive in the Test match. Paul Gibb played a sensational knock of 120 runs, while Bill Edrich scored a double hundred. Skipper Wally Hammond came into bat at number four and scored 140 runs before being dismissed by Dalton.
England had scored 654 runs for the loss of five wickets before the umpires eventually decided to abandon the game.
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