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Smith and McKenzie set new opening wicket record of 415

01/03/2008

South Africa's Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie break 51-year opening score record with stand of 415

Batsmen Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie established a new world record opening stand of 415 runs as South Africa eased to 509-1 in the second Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

The pair resumed the day on 405 and took no time at all to surpass the previous best opening partnership of 413, set by India's Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad against New Zealand in 1956.

However, Smith, who was also breaking another record by captaining South Africa for a 54th time, lost his wicket just nine balls after reaching the landmark figure, being bowled out by Abdur Razzak for 232.

McKenzie meanwhile reached a personal Test best of 223 not out by the break, having reached his double century off 350 balls, hitting 24 fours and three sixes along the way.

However, the pair failed to beat the South African record partnership score for any wicket, with the unbeaten 429 achieved by Jacques Rudolph and Boeta Dippenaar for the third wicket against Bangladesh in 2003.

The strong batting performance continued the tourists' dominance over Bangladesh and comes just days after they cruised to a five-wicket victory on the fourth day of the opening Test.

Should Smith's team take the second Test, as is looking highly likely, they will condemn Bangladesh to their 46th defeat in 52 Test matches, including five losses in a row against South Africa.