India and England are neck and neck in the third Test, and after the deadlock of the first innings, it’s now up to the final two innings to separate the sides. England have already started their second innings and are expected to push hard for a declaration. India, meanwhile, will want to knock them over quickly and keep the target as low as possible. All this to get a result at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. That brings us to the big question: how much is too much to chase at Lord’s?
Highest run-chases at Lord’s Cricket Ground
| Team | Runs | Wkts | Opposition | Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 344 | 1 | England | Jun 28, 1984 |
| England | 282 | 3 | New Zealand | May 20, 2004 |
| South Africa | 282 | 5 | Australia | Jun 11, 2025 |
| England | 279 | 5 | New Zealand | Jun 2, 2022 |
| England | 218 | 3 | New Zealand | Jun 17, 1965 |
| England | 193 | 5 | West Indies | May 17, 2012 |
| England | 191 | 8 | West Indies | Jun 29, 2000 |
| England | 163 | 2 | Bangladesh | May 27, 2010 |
| Pakistan | 141 | 8 | England | Jun 18, 1992 |
| England | 137 | 3 | Australia | Jul 21, 1890 |
| India | 136 | 5 | England | Jun 5, 1986 |
So far, the highest chase at Lord’s belongs to the West Indies, who famously gunned down 344 in 1984, thanks to a Gordon Greenidge’s masterclass. The legendary opener scored 214*, which is also the highest individual score in the fourth innings of a Lord’s Test.
England’s best came in 2004 when they chased 282 against New Zealand. Most recently, South Africa hunted down 282 against Australia just last month in June 2025.
India’s highest chase at Lord’s remains a modest 136, achieved back in 1986 under the leadership of Kapil Dev. Interestingly, their last two Test wins at this venue have come while defending targets. In 2014, Ishant Sharma’s short-ball barrage skittled England, while in 2021, Virat Kohli’s charged-up team bowled the hosts out in under 60 overs.
