West Indies topped the list with a dramatic 1-run win over Australia at Adelaide in 1993. Curtly Ambrose starred with 10 wickets as Australia fell just short chasing 186, the narrowest victory in Test history.
Next is New Zealand, who pulled off an extraordinary 1-run victory against England at Wellington in 2023. Following-on, centuries from Williamson and Blundell turned the match around, and Neil Wagner’s late strikes sealed a historic win.
England followed with their unforgettable 2-run triumph over Australia at Edgbaston in 2005.
Australia have twice won by 3 runs, once against England in 1902 and again in 1982.
India joined this elite list recently with a thrilling 6-run win over England at The Oval. Despite centuries from Root and Brook, India triggered a stunning collapse from 301/3 to 367 all out, thanks to Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
Top 10 Smallest Margin Wins By Runs In Test Cricket
Here are 10 teams which won thrilling test matches with the closest margin.
| 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 |
| India | 6 runs | 374 | England | The Oval | 31 Jul 2025 |
| Australia | 6 runs | 214 | England | Sydney | 20 Feb 1885 |
| Australia | 7 runs | 85 | England | The Oval | 28 Aug 1882 |
1. West Indies vs Australia: 1 Run
In the thrilling test match at Adelaide in January 1993, the West Indies defeated Australia by just one run, the closest win in Test history.
West Indies scored 252 and 146 in their innings and set the target of 186. On the other hand Australia managed 213 and 184 and fell short by 1 run. Curtly Ambrose was the star who took 10 wickets in the match and was named player of the match.
2. New Zealand vs England: 1 Run
In the unforgettable test match at Wellington, New Zealand defeated England by just one run. They became the only 4th team in history to win after following-on.
After England declared there in at 435/8, New Zealand responded with 209 and a strong 483 in the second inning after follow-on. Kane Williamson’s 132 and Tom Blundell’s 90 helped them to set the target of 258. England was in the chase with Root’s 95, but Neil Wagner turned the match towards New Zealand and they won the match by 4 runs.
3. England vs Australia: 2 Runs
In one of the greatest Tests ever, England edged Australia by just 2 runs at Edgbaston in 2005 to level the Ashes 1–1. Batting first, England scored 407.
Australia replied with 308 before Flintoff starred again with 73 in the second innings. Chasing 282, Australia collapsed to 137/7 but Warne (42),Lee (43), and Kasprowicz (20) fought back. With just 3 needed, Kasprowicz caught out. Andrew Flintoff’s all-round brilliance (141 runs, 7 wickets) earned him Player of the Match in this legendary Ashes thriller.
4. Australia vs England: 3 Runs
In a dramatic finish at Old Trafford, Australia edged England by just 3 runs in the 1902 Ashes classic.
Victor Trumper’s 104 set up Australia’s 299, with Bill Lockwood taking 6 wickets. England replied with 262 thanks to Stanley Jackson (128). Chasing 124, England collapsed despite MacLaren’s 35, falling for 120. Hugh Trumble (6/53) sealed the win in one of Test cricket’s earliest thrillers.
5. England vs Australia: 3 Runs
In a heart-stopping finish at MCG, England defeated Australia by just 3 runs.
After setting a target of 292, England held their nerves as Cowans took 6/77. Australia fell short despite Allen Border’s 62* and lost the match by childrens
6. New Zealand vs Pakistan: 4 Runs
New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 4-run in a thrilling test match. Chasing 176 Pakistan college from 130/4 to 171 all out.
Ajaz Patel took 5 and became the player of the match. Earlier Yasir Shah and Hasan Ali took 5-5 wickets but they didn’t get any support from their batters.
7. South Africa vs Australia: 5 Runs
South Africa stunned Australia by 5 runs in a gripping Test match at Sydney. Chasing 117, Australia collapsed to 111, with Fanie de Villiers (6/43) sealing a historic win.
Earlier, Shane Warne’s 7/56 and 5/72 had put Australia in control, but Jonty Rhodes’ 76 in the 2nd innings* proved decisive. It was South Africa’s first Test win in Australia since readmission.
8. India vs England: 6 Runs
In a dramatic final match of the series, India outclassed England by 6 runs to win the 5th test and draw the series by 2-2.
India set the target of 374 with the help of Jaiswal’s century (118) and night watchman Akash Deep’s crucial 66. England was ahead in the chase with Joe Root (105) and Harry Brook (111) centuries. But Siraj’s 5-fer and Prasidh Krishna’s 4-wicket triggered England’s collapse, and they were all out at 367 after 301/3.
9. Australia vs England: 6 Runs
In a thrilling Sydney test in 1885, Australia defeated England by 6 runs. After scoring 181 and 165, Australia set a target of 214. England, despite Wilf Flowers and Maurice Read scoring 56 each, fell short at 207.
Frederick Spofforth took 6/90, finishing with 10 wickets in the match. Tom Horan also contributed with 6/40 in England’s first innings. Australian batter Tom Garrett’s steady 51 in the first innings proved crucial in a classic match of early Test cricket.
10. Australia vs England: 7 Runs
In the historic 1882 Oval test, Australia won by 7 runs in a low-scoring match. Australia scored 63 and 122 while England could manage only 101 and 77 runs while chasing 85.
Frederick Spofforth dominated with 14 wickets across both innings, including 7/44 in the second innings. Ted Peate and Dick Barlow troubled Australia in the first innings. Hugh Massie’s 55 stood out for Australia, but England fell agonizingly short despite W.G. Grace’s 32 in the second innings.
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Conclusion: Smallest Margin Of Victory By Runs In The Test Is 1 Run
Matches decided by 1 run are rarest and iconic in Test cricket. West Indies’ 1-run win in 1993 remains the narrowest ever, closely followed by New Zealand’s similar feat in 2023.
England and Australia have traded several close contests, including multiple 2–3 run thrillers. India recently entered the top ten list by defeating England by six runs at the Oval to level the series at 2-2.
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