Pakistan has been one of the top teams between the 1990s and 2010s. They had many match-winners on their team that could win games single-handedly. The nation known for producing some of the best pace bowlers has given the game some icons. But with so many glorious days, there have been times when Pakistan hasn’t proved to be effective.
This article will highlight some of these games and moments when the Men in Green conceded some big partnerships in the history of test cricket. Pakistan is one of the few teams to concede over 400 runs for the first wicket. So let’s check the top opening stand in test format against Pakistan.
Highest Opening Partnership in Test against Pakistan
| Pair | Runs | Team | Venue | Date |
| Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid | 410 | India | Lahore | 13 Jan 2006 |
| Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs | 368 | South Africa | Cape Town | 2 Jan 2003 |
| Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya | 335 | Sri Lanka | Kandy | 28 Jun 2000 |
| Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes | 312 | Bangladesh | Khulna | 28 Apr 2015 |
| Michael Slater and Greg Blewett | 269 | Australia | Brisbane | 5 Nov 1999 |
| Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett | 233 | England | Rawalpindi | 1 Dec 2022 |
| David Warner and Joe Burns | 222 | Australia | Brisbane | 21 Nov 2019 |
3. Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya (335 runs) in 2000
The third-biggest partnership for the first wicket came in a rather weird game between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in July 2000. It was the third and final game of the three-match series at Kandy. Pakistan won the previous two encounters prior to this. Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat first. Day 1 had only 53.2 overs, and Sri Lanka made 140/0. At the end of the second day, Sri Lanka was at 449/5.
Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya added 335 runs for the first wicket. Jayasuriya made 188 runs with 17 fours and two sixes. Atapattu scored an unbeaten century and made 207 runs with 19 fours and one six. The third and fourth days were completely washed out. The fifth day had a play for just two runs. As a result, the game ended in a draw with Sri Lanka at 467/5 in 155.4 overs.
2. Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs (368 runs) in 2003
South Africa registered the second-highest test partnership for the first wicket against Pakistan. It was recorded in January 2003 in the second game of the two tests in Cape Town. Batting first, South Africa recorded a huge total of 620/7 in 135 overs and declared their innings. They had a brilliant start with a 368-run partnership for the first wicket between Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs, and both batters scored big centuries.
Smith made 151 runs, while Gibbs scored an excellent double century. He made 228 runs off 240 balls, with 29 boundaries. In the first inning, Pakistan was dismissed for 252 runs. South Africa got a lead of 368 runs in the first inning and enforced a follow-on. Pakistan had another poor showing in the second inning as well. They got embarrassed for just 226 runs and lost the game by an inning and 142 runs.
1. Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid (410 runs) in 2006
India’s second highest test partnership came against Pakistan, which is the highest opening partnership against them. It was registered in January 2006, when India toured Pakistan for the last time in its history. It was the first test in Lahore. Batting first, Pakistan posted a big total of 679/7 in 143.3 overs and declared their inning. Younis Khan (199), Mohammad Yousuf (173), Shahid Afridi (103 off 80), and Kamran Akmal (102* off 81) scored centries.
It was a huge total against India. But both Indian openers had a different plan. The pair of Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid added 410 runs for the first wicket in 76.5 overs. Dravid was unbeaten on 128 runs with 19 boundaries, while Sehwag went berserk with a brilliant double hundred. He made 254 off 247 with 47 fours and one six. The rain interrupted the game, and India was at 410/1 when the game ended in a draw.