The last timeless Test — 12 calendar days, and it still ended in a draw because England had a boat to catch.
Durban, 3–14 March 1939, the fifth and final Test. England led the series 1–0, and this one would be played until there was a result.
South Africa made 530, England 316, South Africa 481 more. England needed 696 — nobody had ever chased a total like it. Bill Edrich made 219 and England reached 654 for 5, forty-two runs short.
On the final day, rain arrived at tea and never left. England's train to Cape Town left that night to meet the Athlone Castle, which would not wait. The match with no time limit ended in a draw.
1,981 runs, 5,447 balls, the last timeless Test ever played. 654/5 is still the highest fourth-innings total in Test history.