Stats: Zimbabwe's remarkable turnaround in numbers

Four wickets for 23 runs in the 2nd innings with just a 33-run lead. This was Zimbabwe’s position at Lunch break on the 3rd day of the only Test against Sri Lanka. Everyone expected the game to finish before the end of the day’s play given the way Sri Lankans bowled in the session on the 3rd morning.

But by the end of the 4th day, the Lankans are still 218 runs away from the target with only 7 wickets to play. This wouldn’t have been possible if not for a remarkable comeback by the Zimbabwe side. Their charge was led by Sikandar Raza’s sensational ton after he walked out to bat at 23/4 and scored while struggling with fitness. He got great support from Peter Moor and Malcolm Waller while their captain Graeme Cremer also put on a valuable contribution batting along with Donald Tiripano to post 377 runs on the board.

In the first innings as well, Zimbabwe recovered from 70/4 to post 356 thanks to a brilliant 160 from Craig Ervine who formed crucial stands with the middle and lower order. Zimbabwe had a total of 6 fifty-plus partnerships after they lost their 4th wicket in this game; 3 each in both innings. Only Australia had 7 fifty-plus stands for the 5th wicket or later in a Test match which they recorded in 1997 against New Zealand.

Most fifty-plus stands for the 5th wicket and later by a team in a Test match:

They aggregated a total of 93 runs for the first 4 wickets in the game but their middle and lower order put on 640 runs in both the innings of the game for the 5th wicket or later which is bettered only by New Zealand and India in Test history.

Highest aggregate by the 5th wicket and later by a team in a Test match:

Zimbabwe’s total of 377 in the 2nd innings is the 2nd highest total by any team in Tests after they lost their 4th wicket for less than 25 runs. Pakistan declared their innings on 387/9 after they recovered from 22/4 against Australia in 1990. Zimbabwe’s innings was only the 5th instance where a team managed to add 300 more runs after losing their 4th wicket for a total of 25 or lower in the longest format.

Highest team totals in Tests after losing the 4th wicket for 25 or fewer runs:

(Stats as on July 17, 2017)