Test cricket has time and again given us the thrill and excitement of its stature. Another glorious incident occurred during the second and final Test match between South Africa and Pakistan. At the end of the third day of the match, names Babar Azam Leader of Pakistan Shan Masoud They are included in the history books as they registered the highest opening partnership after enforcing the follow-on on the team.
Top 5 opening partnerships during follow-up tests
(5) Graham Gooch and Michael Atherton (England):
England's opening duo – Graham Gooch and Michael Atherton – He achieved the feat in the third Test match of India's tour of England in 1990 which included 3 Tests and 2 ODIs between the two countries and several tour games in between. Both teams arrived at The Oval with different ambitions, while England set their sights on winning the series, following a convincing win in the first Test match at Lord's. India aims to win the match and draw the series.
However, it was the visiting team who had a brilliant start to the match by declaring their first innings on 606/9 with powerful knocks from Ravi Shastri and Kapil Dev. In response, the English batsmen failed to match India's power with the bat and were bowled out for 340 runs thus forcing the follow-on.
The home team was desperate for a run to save the game and that's exactly what the England opening duo did. The batsmen had a partnership of 176 before Gooch was dismissed by Narendra Hirwani Over 88 rounds. The strong start galvanized the other English batsmen and in a valiant effort England added a total of 477 for the loss of 4 wickets before the innings was declared and the match ended in a draw. Thus England won the 3-match Test series 1-0.
(4) Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan (England):
The English batsmen added another high score for the opening wicket after forcing the follow-on on them. This time it was in 2004 in St John's against the West Indies.
West Indies really made this match memorable after that Brian Lara He scored 400 unbeaten runs and recorded written history. Aided by a brilliant knock from the skipper, West Indies managed to put on a massive 751 runs before declaring their innings.
In response, the visitors were disappointed with the bat in the first innings and were bowled out for 285 runs. Hence, follow-up is imposed. Desperate to save themselves from a humiliating loss, the English batsmen gave a blistering start to the second innings and added 182 runs for the opening wicket. Trescothick contributed 88 off 188 balls before being dismissed Fidel Edwards. This helped England put 422 runs on the board in the second innings and save the match.
(3) Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes (Bangladesh):
Bangladesh We met a determined English side in the opening Test match of their 2010 tour of England at Lord's. The home team made 505 runs in the first innings and bowled out Bangladesh for 282 runs forcing Bangladesh to bat again in their quest to move closer to the grand total.
The Bangladeshi opening duo put up a valiant resistance to the wet English conditions and a relentless attack from the fielders James Anderson, Tim Bresnan and Steve Finn. Iqbal scored a heroic 103 off 100 balls before Finn got rid of the opener. Together with Kayes, the opening pair added 185 points to their team's total.
However, their valiant resistance as the visitors could only give England a target of 160 runs was something the hosts managed to achieve for the loss of just 2 wickets.
also Watch: A frustrated Jan Mulder throws the ball to Babar Azam in a heated exchange on the third day of the second Test – SA vs PAK
(2) Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie (South Africa):
Two of the best Test playing nations faced each other during South Africa's 2008 tour of England at Lord's in the opening Test match. England, batting first, made a dream first innings and scored 593/8 before their innings was declared. South Africa had a dismal start to the tour in response as they were bowled out for 247 runs in the first innings.
Trailing by 346 points, the hosts forced a follow-on. The Proteas emerged in their second innings and faced the English attack. Openers Smith and McKenzie added 204 runs between them. Smith made 107 runs before Anderson took his wicket. On the other hand, McKenzie went on to score 138 runs off 447 balls. The brave response from the visiting team paid off, as the match ended in a scoreless draw.
(1) Babar Azam and Shan Masoud (Pakistan):
The record for the highest follow-on opening partnership was broken by the opening pair of Pakistani captain Masood and Azam as Pakistan played the final Test match of their tour of South Africa in Cape Town. The Proteas compiled a huge total of 615 runs in their first innings and finished Pakistan's first innings on 194 runs.
Pakistan needed a strong batting effort to save the match during the follow-on play. Azzam started the second half with Masoud due for the opener Saim AyoubUnavailability. The two Pakistani batsmen played off the South African players who showed perfect temperament and added 206 runs between them on the third day of the match to break the record.
In the dying moments of the third day, Azam gave his share away to Marco Jansen The historic partnership ended. Khurram Shehzad Masood is currently at the crease for Pakistan as the visitors trail by 208 runs.