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Test Cricket has time and again given us the thrill and excitement of its height. Another such glorious incident took place during the second and final test match between south africa i Pakistan. At the end of the third day of the match the names of Babar Azam and patron saint of Pakistan Shan Masood into the history books as they recorded the highest opening wicket partnership after the follow-on is applied to a team.
5 highest opening collaborations during a Test follow-up
(5) Graham Gooch and Michael Atherton (England):
The English opening pair – Graham Gooch i Michael Atherton – achieved the milestone in the 3rd Test match of India’s 1990 tour of England, which included 3 Tests and 2 ODIs between the two nations and several tour games in between. The two teams arrived at The Oval with different ambitions, while England set their sights on winning the series, following their emphatic victory in the first Test match at Lord’s. India aimed to win the match and tie the series.
However, it was the visitors who got off to a dream start as they declared their first innings at 606/9 with emphatic knocks of Ravi Shastri i Kapil Dev. In reply, England’s batsmen failed to match India’s intensity with the bat and were bowled out for 340 runs, thus forcing a follow-on.
The home side desperately needed to put runs on board to save the game, which is exactly what England’s opening pair did. The two batsmen had a partnership of 176 runs before Gooch was dismissed Narendra Hirwani in 88 runs. The strong start motivated other English batsmen and in a valiant effort England totaled 477 for the loss of 4 wickets before declaring the innings and the match ended in a draw. England thus won the 3-match Test series 1-0.
(4) Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan (England):
England’s opening batsmen added another high score for the opening wicket after a follow on was imposed on them. This time it was in 2004 in St. John’s v West Indies.
West Indies had already made this match memorable afterwards Brian Lara he scored 400 unbeaten runs and a dash record. With the help of some remarkable knock from the skipper, West Indies managed to make a mammoth 751 runs before declaring their innings.
In reply, the visitors were disappointed with the bat in the first innings and were bowled out for 285 runs. Thus implementing a follow-up. Desperate to save themselves from a humiliating defeat, England’s opening batsmen made a solid start to the second innings and added 182 runs for the opening cover. Trescothick contributed 88 off 188 balls before being dismissed Fidel Edwards. This helped England put 422 runs on the board in their second innings and save the match.
(3) Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes (Bangladesh):
Bangladesh they met a determined England team in the opening Test match of their 2010 tour of England at Lord’s. The home team made 505 runs in their first innings and bowled out Bangladesh for 282 runs, thus forcing Bangladesh to bat once again in their quest to get closer to the big total.
Bangladesh’s opening pair mustered valiant resistance against the humid English conditions and the relentless pacers’ onslaught. James Anderson, Tim Bresnan i Steve Finn. Iqbal scored a heroic 103 runs off 100 balls before Finn got rid of the opening batsman. Along with Kayes, the opening pair added 185 runs to their team’s total.
However, their brave resistance as the visitors could only give England a target of 160 runs which the home side managed to achieve for the loss of just 2 wickets.
Also WATCH: Frustrated Wiaan Mulder throws a ball at Babar Azam in heated exchange on Day 3 of 2nd Test: SA vs PAK
(2) Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie (South Africa):
Two of the greatest Test-playing nations met during South Africa’s 2008 tour of England at Lord’s for the opening Test match. England, batting first, had a dream run in their first innings and scored 593/8 before declaring their innings. South Africa had a dismal start to the tour in reply as they were bowled out for 247 runs in their first innings.
After 346 runs, the home team forced to follow on. The Proteas stood out in their second innings and faced the English onslaught. Openers Smith and McKenzie added 204 runs between them. Smith made 107 runs before Anderson took his wicket. McKenzie, on the other hand, scored 138 runs off 447 balls. The brave response from the visiting team was carried out as the game ended in a draw.
(1) Babar Azam and Shan Masood (Pakistan):
The record for the highest opening partnership in a follow-on was broken by the opening pair of Pakistan skipper Masood and Azam as Pakistan played the final Test match of their tour of South Africa in Cape Town . The Proteas had amassed a mammoth total of 615 runs in their first innings and ended Pakistan’s first innings with 194 runs.
Pakistan needed a strong batting effort to save the match as they played a follow-up. Azam started the second innings with Masood because of the first wicket Saim Ayubunavailability of. The two Pakistani batsmen played against the South Africans with exemplary temperament and added 206 runs between them on the third day of the match to break the record.
Towards the last minute of Day 3, Azam gave away his portal Marco Jansen and the historic collaboration came to an end. Khurram Shehzad and Masood are currently up for Pakistan as the visitors trail by 208 runs.
