It was after a very long time that cricket went back to the old way of being long-lasting. The partnership between Shaun Marsh and Adam Voges for the 4th wicket was the highest in the same category. Piling up 449 runs, they single-handedly dominated the West Indies’ bowling attack which ironically was supposed to be their strength. All this action in the first innings of the match meant Australia were clearly in the driving seat. Entering the record books as the 6th highest partnership of all time at any wicket, here we look at the Top 5 who still reign their spots –
5. Mudassar Nazar, Javed Miandad (Pakistan)(451 runs)
The 5th highest partnership record has been with the Pakistani duo for a very long time. Stitching this record against India during January 1983 at Hyderabad, they grilled the Indian bowlers to the fullest. Mudassar Nazar (231) opened the first innings and stayed on the crease with Javed Miandad(280 n.o.) until D. Doshi finally got to break the partnership by taking his wicket. Their contribution helped Pakistan put up a score of 581 runs in the first innings. The Indians failed to show any such prominent efforts as they were bundled out for 189 and 273, resulting in their arch rivals winning the 4th Test of the series by an innings and 119 runs.
4. Bill Ponsford, Don Bradman (Australia)(451 runs)
Winning the toss, Australia chose to bat against England in the 5th Test of Ashes series (August 1934). Ponsford and Bradman took advantage of the batting conditions so well, that they both scored double-hundreds. Ponsford went to go past the 250-mark, scoring 266 (460 balls, 27x 4s) while partner Bradman fell 6 short of the milestone, getting out at 244(316 balls, 32 x 4s; 1 x 6s), with the Aussies having 701 runs to defend. England couldn’t even reach half of the target and their 321 run reply felt paltry. Australia again went out to bat, this time getting all out for comparatively less, 327 runs. England could not even come close to defeating Australia as they barely escaped an innings loss, but still losing by a mind-boggling 562 runs.
3. A Jones, M Crowe (New Zealand)(467 runs)
The 1st Test of the series between the two teams saw the major dominance of bat over ball. The match was held at Wellington during 1990/91 season, where New Zealand played Sri Lanka. Choosing to the field after the coin was flipped, New Zealand were sent back to the dressing after only 174 runs as their total. Sri Lanka came back strongly, thanks to P. Silva’s 267, they replied with 497 runs, taking a lead of 323 runs. The New Zealander duo then took the limelight when A Jones (188) and captain M Crowe (299) made history. Although the match was drawn, their innings remain something special and 3rd on the highest partnership stands ever.
2. S Jayasuriya, R Mahanama (Sri Lanka)(576 runs)
It rained centuries at the Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, during the 1st Test between India and Sri Lanka in the 1997 season. The 5-day match proved to be not long enough as both the teams played one innings each. Bowlers of both the teams were too easy for the batsmen to comprehend as a total of 6 centuries were scored over the 5 days. Starting the proceedings, India put up a huge score of 537 with centuries coming from Sidhu, Tendulkar and Azharuddin. Seeing the brilliant batting display, many had already thought that India would win the Test match but, what happened next was something no one could have even imagined. A triple hundred from opener Jayasuriya (340) and a double hundred from Mahanama (225) combined for a record-shattering 576 runs just in a partnership which took the game away from India. P. Silva also smashed a century to keep India very far away from triumph and all these big individual scores summed up to the Islanders totaling out at whopping 952 run total. The match was drawn and this exceptional partnership record still remains to be broken.
1. K Sangakkara, M Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)(624 runs)
The most celebrated players from the Island country of Sri Lanka stand atop of the list. Playing against a strong South Africa, the 2006 Colombo Test will always be remembered for this special feat irrespective of the result of the match. The opposition chose to bat in the first innings and unexpectedly were bowled out for just 169 runs. Sri Lanka, confident of taking a lead, went to on break records by replying with a gigantic score of 756 runs. Sangakkara (287) and Jayawardene’s (374) pair was the major contributor in this historic Test match. The proteas were no match for the Lankan lions as their valiant effort of putting up 434 runs in their second innings went in vain with Sri Lanka winning the match by an innings and 153 runs. This record stands tall in the world with their combined effort of 624 runs having the least expectancy of ever being broken.