Fans have been treated to countless nail-biters in ODIs and T20Is, with both formats regularly producing edge-of-the-seat finishes. Particularly in T20Is, matches have often turned dramatically within a single over, whether through explosive batting or decisive bowling, completely altering the course of the game. But Test cricket has never been far behind. The longest format has also delivered unforgettable thrillers, with the Men in Whites keeping spectators captivated when contests went down to the wire and were decided by the barest of margins.One such classic unfolded in 1993, when West Indies edged Australia by just one run in Adelaide.
For West Indies, it was a triumph built on composure and discipline. For Australia, it became a heartbreak etched into Adelaide folklore.That one-run victory remained the smallest margin in Test history for 30 years, until New Zealand matched the feat with their dramatic one-run win over England in Wellington in 2023.How West Indies won the thrillerWest Indies scripted one of Test cricket’s most dramatic finishes at Adelaide Oval, defeating Australia by a single run to extend their unbeaten Test series run against the hosts to 13 years. In a nerve-shredding finale played out on Australia Day, Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose held their nerve to seal a result that now ranks among the game’s great thrillers.Chasing a modest target of 186, Australia seemed in control early before Ambrose ignited a collapse by trapping David Boon lbw for a duck. What followed was a remarkable unravelling. Mark Taylor fell cheaply, Steve Waugh, Allan Border and Ian Healy departed in quick succession, and when Merv Hughes was dismissed, Australia were staring at 74 for 7.Debutant Justin Langer then mounted a defiant resistance with a patient 54, keeping Australia alive. His effort, combined with Tim May’s spirited unbeaten 42, turned what looked like a lost cause into a gripping contest.From 144 for 9, the final pair pushed West Indies to the brink, drawing Australia closer to an improbable victory as a packed Adelaide Oval watched in silence.With just two runs required, drama peaked when Craig McDermott was adjudged caught behind off Walsh by Darrell Hair — a decision that continues to be debated. McDermott’s dismissal ended Australia’s chase at 184, triggering wild celebrations in the West Indies camp and leaving the home crowd stunned.Earlier, West Indies had laid a solid foundation in the first innings. Brian Lara top-scored with 52, while Desmond Haynes and Phil Simmons contributed 45 and 46 respectively. Junior Murray’s unbeaten 49 guided the visitors to 252, with Merv Hughes claiming five wickets for Australia.Australia replied with 213, undone largely by Ambrose’s devastating figures of 6 for 74. Steve Waugh battled with 42 and Hughes added a valuable 43 lower down the order, but the hosts still conceded a 39-run deficit.Richie Richardson then anchored West Indies’ second innings with a fluent 72, supported by Carl Hooper’s 25, before Tim May ran through the tail with 5 for 9 to dismiss the visitors for 146 and set Australia a target that initially appeared straightforward.What followed was a masterclass in fast bowling under pressure. Ambrose claimed four wickets in the final innings, Walsh took three, and together they engineered a collapse that delivered a one-run victory — a margin that stood unmatched for three decades.
Smallest margin of victory (by runs) in Tests
Test cricket has long been celebrated for its five-day drama, but few moments capture its cruelty and brilliance quite like matches decided by just a handful of runs. A select group of contests, separated by the narrowest margins, serve as timeless reminders that every delivery can shape history.At the top of that rare list sits West Indies’ iconic one-run victory over Australia in Adelaide in January 1993. Chasing 186, Australia were bowled out for 184 after 79 overs in a heart-stopping finish that preserved Caribbean dominance and silenced the home crowd. For 30 years, it remained the smallest winning margin in Test cricket.
| Winner | Margin | Target | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 1 run | 186 | Australia | Adelaide | 23 Jan 1993 |
| New Zealand | 1 run | 258 | England | Wellington | 24 Feb 2023 |
| England | 2 runs | 282 | Australia | Birmingham | 4 Aug 2005 |
| Australia | 3 runs | 124 | England | Manchester | 24 Jul 1902 |
| England | 3 runs | 292 | Australia | Melbourne | 26 Dec 1982 |
| New Zealand | 4 runs | 176 | Pakistan | Abu Dhabi | 16 Nov 2018 |
| South Africa | 5 runs | 117 | Australia | Sydney | 2 Jan 1994 |
| Australia | 6 runs | 214 | England | Sydney | 20 Feb 1885 |
| India | 6 runs | 374 | England | The Oval | 31 Jul 2025 |
| Australia | 7 runs | 85 | England | The Oval | 28 Aug 1882 |
That record was finally matched in February 2023, when New Zealand edged England by one run in Wellington while defending 258, producing another instant classic.England’s famous two-run win over Australia at Birmingham in August 2005 — the Edgbaston epic — also features prominently, while Australia’s three-run triumph over England in Manchester in 1902 stands as one of the earliest examples of Test cricket’s razor-thin outcomes. England later returned the favour with their own three-run victory in Melbourne in 1982.New Zealand appear twice on the list, having also beaten Pakistan by four runs in Abu Dhabi in 2018. South Africa’s five-run win over Australia in Sydney in 1994 added another chapter, before Australia registered a six-run victory over England in Sydney in 1885. More recently, India joined this elite group with a six-run triumph over England at The Oval in July 2025 while defending 374.Australia’s famous seven-run win over England at The Oval in 1882 — a match that directly led to the birth of the Ashes — also features among the top 10 smallest margins of victory in Test history.