3 Batting pairs which batted the entire day to change the course of a Test match

Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman put on 335 runs on day 4 to take India to a dominating total 
Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman put on 335 runs on day 4 to take India to a dominating total 

Cricket is a team game where the word 'I' doesn't exist. With that being said it is known how important partnerships are for any team, be it while chasing or setting up a total. The longest format of the game, Tests, not only the endurance levels of players but also their mental strength and character.

There have been a few batting performances which have completely changed the course of the game. Teams have gone on to win the game even after conceding a huge follow-on in the first innings. Whereas there have been a few courageous batting performances which have even 'saved' the Test match for a team. Out of many such innings, a few iconic batting pairs who have batted out the entire day of a Test match are as follows:


#1 Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman (335 runs against Australia in Kolkata 2001)

The Indian team was facing a difficult time in 2001 where they were suffering defeats in both home and away matches. The Australian team, on the other hand, headed into the second Test after thrashing India by 10 wickets in the first Test. This victory made it 16 consecutive victories for the Australians. The Australian squad comprised of legends like Shane Waugh, Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, and Glenn McGrath.

The Australians had put up a total of 445 in the first innings and took a lead of 274 as they bowled out the Indians for 171. India started off well in the second inning with barely any hope to save the Test. Rahul Dravid walked in after the dismissal of the Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly with the score reading 232-4. VVS Laxman had earlier scored a half-century in the 1st Inning to save India from the blushes was on the other side. On the end of play on the 3rd Day, the score was 254 for 4 with Laxman on 109 and Dravid on 7.

The Indians who were down and out in the Test match after conceding the follow-on in the first innings saw history being made on Day 4. The day began with both Dravid and Laxman playing counter-attacking cricket to dominate the Aussie bowlers. The Indian batting duo of Dravid and Laxman played out the entire day to score 335 runs between themselves. Ultimately on Day 5, Laxman fell for 281 runs which comprised of 44 boundaries whereas Dravid, later on, fell for 180.

Their batting performance gave India the advantage as they set up a total of 657 for 7 to declare and set a target of 384 for the Australians to chase. The Australians now had 75 overs to either chase down the target or save the Test. The Indian bowling sensation Harbhajan ripped past the Australians to give India a win by 171 runs (The total the Indians scored in the 1st Innings).

#2 Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene (357 runs against South Africa in Colombo in 2006)

Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene hold the record for the highest 3rd wicket partnership of 624 runs
Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene hold the record for the highest 3rd wicket partnership of 624 runs

The first Test match of South Africa’s tour of Sri Lanka commenced on the 27th of July, 2006. The South African team was being captained by Ashwell Prince. The Sri Lankan team took the field without their veteran bowler, Chaminda Vaas who was ruled out of the first Test due to a hamstring injury.

The Sri Lankans began the Test on a dominating note as they had sent half the South African batting line up with the score at 112 for 5. The resolute innings of 65 of AB de Villiers took the South Africans to a total of 169.

The South Africans began well as they sent both the Sri Lankan openers back to the pavilion with the score 14 for 2. Little did the world know then that they would be witnessing history being made by the batting pair of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

The experienced pair led the Sri Lankan charge as they smashed the South African bowlers to score 357 runs in the day to take the Sri Lankans to a comfortable position. The pair continued from where they left off on the next day to pile up the world record partnership of 624 for the third wicket.

Mahela scored 374 runs nearing Brian Lara’s record innings of 400 whereas Sangakkara scored 287 runs with both batsmen batting over 11 hours each. This handed the Sri Lankans a victory by an inning and 153 runs.

#3 Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis (239 runs against New Zealand in Wellington 2018)

Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis stitched 239 runs on Day 4
Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis stitched 239 runs on Day 4

The first Test of Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand began with the Sri Lankans getting bundled out for 282 in the first innings. The Kiwis in reply to the Sri Lankans put up a dominating batting performance led from the front by their opener Tom Latham who carried his bat throughout the innings to score an unbeaten 264 to take the Kiwis to a total of 578.

The Sri Lankan second innings began with the Sri Lankans reeling at the score of 13 for 3. The top 3 batsmen had no reply to the bowling combination of Tim Southee and Trent Boult. Angelo Mathews who had earlier scored 83 in the first innings had a lot to prove with questions being raised about his fitness.

Mendis and Mathews batted the entire day to score 239 runs stamping their authority and bringing Sri Lanka back into the game. Their innings lit up the fortunes for Sri Lanka as due to a torrential downpour on the fifth day only 12 overs could be bowled. Thus the game was abandoned and ended in a draw. The unbeaten innings of 141 by Mendis and 120 by Mathews spanned over seven hours each as they came to Sri Lanka’s rescue.

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Edited by Vineet Aiyer