In Test cricket, in the first part, one team makes a total and the other team tries to reach it and surpass it to establish a lead. There are times, however, when the chasing team is only able to match the initial score and are unable to score any further runs. This is so rare that it's only happened eight times; with a ninth occuring in the current 3rd Test between England and India.
The first instance was way back in 1910 when South Africa faced England in Durban. The Proteas chose to bat first and managed to post only 199 as Aubrey Faulkner (47) and Tom Cambell (48) were the prime contributors. The English, in reply, also collapsed for 199, after an early promising partnership between Hobbs and Rhodes (of 94 runs).
During the second innings, South Africa scored 347 with the help of a century from Gordon White. With 348 as the target to win the match, England was bowled out for 252, which resulted in losing the match by 95 runs.
The next occurence happened over four decades later in 1958 when India faced West Indies in Kanpur. Indian leg spinner, Subash Gupte’s 9-wicket haul destroyed the West Indians’ batting line-up after choosing to bat first upon winning the toss. Gerry Alexander scored 70 as West Indies put on a total of 222. The Indians, in reply, were struck by a 6-wicket haul from Wes Hall which skittled India out for exactly 222.
As the second innings continued, West Indies scored and declared with 443-7 on the board. The Indians, in reply, crumbled against the visitors and got bowled out for 240; losing the match by a huge total of 203 runs.
The year 1973 was special as it brought out two instances of identical scores. The first was New Zealand against Pakistan in Auckland. Winning the toss and choosing to bat, Pakistan posted a huge total of 402 with help of a century from Majid Khan and a couple of fifties scored by Mushtaq Mohammad and Saleem Altaf. In reply, Rodney Redmond and Brian Hastings of New Zealand scored centuries as New Zealand also got bowled out for 402.
As the second innings followed, Pakistan managed to score 271 posting a target of 272, New Zealand only managed to score 92 for 3 before the match ended in a draw.
The second was between West Indies and Australia in Jamaica. With the helping hand of Rod Marsh, Doug Walters and Ross Edwards’ fifties, the Australians declared at 428-7 after electing to bat first on winning the toss. West Indies managed to match the score, as they were all out on the 4th day. Their batting effort was powered by a century from Maurice Foster and fifties from Rohan Kanhai, Alvin Kallicharran and Lawrence Rowe.
In the second innings, Australia declared at 260-2, bringing the West Indies to bat in their second innings. In reply, West Indies scored 67 for 3, after which the match was declared as a draw.
We then jump to 1986 when England faced India in Birmingham. Winning the toss, England elected to bat first and scored 390 with help of a top knock from Mike Gatting who scored 183*. In reply, the Indians got bundled out for exactly 390 runs by day 3. The Indians, though, had much more of a team effort, with runs coming across the line-up
In the second innings, the English batsman could only post 235 as Indian pacer, Chetan Sharma, rocked them out with a 6-wicket haul. With 236 runs left to win, the Indians ran out of overs at the end of day 5, scoring 174-5 wickets. The match was drawn.
We now jump to my birth year of 1994 and when West Indies faced England in Antigua. The West Indies cricket team batted first after winning the toss and declared after scoring a huge total of 593-5. They were powered by a brilliant knock of 375 from Brian Lara, which stood as the world record for highest individual score at that time. England, in reply, tied the score with huge centuries from Mike Atherton (135) and Robin Smith (175) before being bowled out on the 5th day.
The second innings saw the West Indies play 24 overs, scoring 43 runs without loss. After which both captains agreed to end the match in a draw.
In 2004, it happened again in the same venue. This time, the opposition was Australia. Choosing to bat first against the West Indies, Australians were skittled out for 240 courtesy of a 7-wicket haul from Jermaine Lawson with only Justin Langer and Steve Waugh managing to cross the 40s. Later, in the afternoon on the 2nd day, the men in maroon also got bowled out for 240 with Lara guiding his side with a hard-fought 68.
Though the scores didn't stay the same in the second innings, with the Australians posting a mammoth total of 417 with centuries from openers Langer and Matthew Hayden. West Indies in reply saw valiant centuries from Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul helping their side to chase down 418, recording the highest successful chase in Test cricket history.
A dozen years later in Leeds, England faced New Zealand. England won the toss and chose to field, bringing the Kiwis on the crease to bat. With valiant half-centuries from Tom Latham and Luke Ronchi, New Zealand scored a total of 350 as Stuart Broad took a 5 wicket haul. The English in reply, found the going tough after an excellent opening partnership by Alastair Cook and Adam Lyth, who scored a half-century and a century, respectively.
In the second innings, the Kiwis improved their first innings batting performance by scoring 454 and setting a target of 455. England, in reply, got bundled out for 255, losing by a mammoth 199 runs.
We go to the present day and the Test between England and India. England won the toss and, surprisingly, elected to bat first. England were bowled out for 387. Contributions by Joe Root (104); Jamie Smith (51) and Brydon Carse (56) assured this total. Jasprit Bumrah was the chief destroyer with figures of 5-74.
In reply, India were bowled out for the same score. Scores by KL Rahul (100); Rishabh Pant (74) and Ravindra Jadeja (72) made sure that India didn't suffer a deficit. Chris Woakes was the standout bowler with figures of 3-84.
England, in their 2nd innings, scored 192. Washington Sundar was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-22.
As of this writing, India ended day 4 on 58-4. They still require a further 135 runs for victory.
To be honest, this is the first time I've experienced identical 1st innings scores. It feels a bit weird. When England batted for the second time, it felt bizarre seeing England leading by the same score as the overall total. I don't think I'll ever get used to it.