South Africa Highest Partnership in Test

South Africa is the only team in history to become the No. 1 ranked team in all three formats at the same time in 2012. That speaks volumes about the South African cricket team over the years. The Proteas are known for giving legendary pacers to the world. But their batting resources are also brilliant.

This article will feature the biggest partnerships for South Africa in the test cricket. South Africa made their debut in test cricket way back in March 1889, when they played their first match against England. From then on, this team became a fixture in the game, earning test status from the ICC in 1909. 

Highest Partnership in Test South Africa

3. Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis 377 runs

Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis were two of the biggest icons that South Africa has ever produced. Both of these batters hold the record for their third highest test partnership. They did it against England in July 2012 at the Oval. England scored a decent total of 385 runs in their first inning, including a century from Alastair Cook (115). South Africa replied with a massive 637/2 and declared in 189 overs.

Amla and Kallis added an unbeaten 377 runs for the third wicket. Amla scored his career-best and the highest individual score for his country. He made 311 not out with 35 boundaries in it. Kallis scored 182 not out in the partnership. Earlier, skipper Greame Smith also scored 131 runs. They had a first-inning lead of 252 runs. In the second inning, England got bowled out for 240 runs, and South Africa won the game by an inning and 12 runs.

2. Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith (415 runs) vs Bangladesh in 2008

When two openers score a double century each, the opening stand breaks many records. That’s what happened in February 2008, when South Africa played Bangladesh in Chattogram. Batting first, South Africa declared their first inning at 583/7 in 161.1 overs, with both openers scoring double centuries. The pair of Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith added 415 runs for the first wicket, which is the highest for the opening wicket in test cricket until now.

McKenzie made 226 runs while Smith scored 232 runs in that partnership. Bangladesh couldn’t repeat the batting performance that South Africa had. As a result, they got dismissed for just 259 runs in their first inning. With a first-inning lead of 324 runs, South Africa enforced a follow-on. However, Bangladesh couldn’t improve their batting performance in the second inning as well and got all out for 119 runs. As a result, South Africa won that game by an inning and 205 runs.

1. Jacques Rudolph and Boeta Dippenaar (429* runs) vs Bangladesh in 2003

Both the highest and second-highest test partnerships for South Africa is registered against Bangladesh. The highest came in April 2003 in Chattogram. It was the first test of the two-match series. Bangladesh got dismissed for 173 runs in their first inning. In reply, South Africa scored 470/2 in 130.5 overs and declared their first inning with a lead of 297 runs. In their first inning, South Africa registered their biggest test partnership.

Jacques Rudolph and Boeta Dippenaar added an unbeaten 429 runs for the third wicket, which is still the highest stand for the Proteas. Rudolph made an unbeaten 222 runs, and Dippenaar remained unbeaten on 177 runs. That 297-run lead proved to be more than enough for South Africa. In the second inning, Bangladesh got bowled out for 237 runs, and South Africa won that game by an inning and 60 runs.

Team wise Highest Partnership in Test