Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel in 2024 (x.com)
Pakistan cricket boast of a rich Test history which comprises of some elite middle-order batters in the form of legendary Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Javed Miandad. The aforementioned players, along with Asad Shafiq, active wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and others, have carved numerous batting masterclasses in pairs to lead Pakistan’s command in some grueling Test matches.
Here at OneCricket, we take a look at five of the highest fifth-wicket partnerships recorded by Pakistani batters in Test matches.
Five Highest Fifth-Wicket Partnerships for Pakistan in Tests
Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel (x.com)
Pakistan number five Saud Shakeel and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan saved their team from the blushes in the first Test of their 2024 home series against Bangladesh. Pakistan’s top-order crumbled at 16-3, and to 114-4, before Shakeel and Rizwan took it upon themselves to play fire-with-fire with a raging Bangladeshi pace attack.
Both middle-order batters made huge hundreds and shared 240 runs together to steer their team past the 350-run mark before sustaining another batting casualty.
Shoaib Malik goes over the top against England (x.com)
During the first Test of England’s 2015 tour of UAE, Pakistan batted out the opening day to reach a commanding 286-4. Unbeaten Shoaib Malik and Asad Shafiq, who formed forces at 251-4, stretched the Pakistani total to 499-5 the following day with utmost composure and precision.
Both cricketers plundered majestic centuries with Malik carving out a career-best Test score of 245. Regardless. Shafiq and Malik’s 248-run partnership for the fifth wicket set up a high-scoring draw at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
In early 1994, a Saleem Malik-led Pakistan cricket team toured New Zealand for a three-match Test series. In the second Test match at Wellington, captain Malik and a young Inzamam-ul-Haq shared 258 runs together for the fifth wicket to mount a 373-run first innings lead over the hosts. While Malik belted 140 runs from 200 deliveries with 20 boundaries, Inzamam flogged 135 runs from 195 balls with 19 fours and a six.
The Pakistani skipper instantly called for a declaration at 548-5 after his dismissal to Matthew Hart. The partnership remained Pakistan’s highest fifth-wicket stand in overseas Tests for more than 17 years and it helped the visitors to clinch the match and take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Younis Khan celebrating his double ton (x.com)
Pakistan middle-order batters Asad Shafiq and Younis Khan batted Bangladesh out of the match during the first Test of the 2011 Test series in Chattogram. Having already gained a 176-run first innings lead over Bangladesh, Khan and Shafiq formed an alliance at 311-4 on the second afternoon.
The two cricketers further piled on Bangladesh’s misery by extending the lead to 459 runs with their 259-run partnership. It was Shafiq’s dismissal at 104 that prompted Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq to call for a declaration at 594-5. Khan remained unbeaten at 200* off 290 balls and was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ after Pakistan sealed the Test by an innings and 184 runs.
Pakistan crashed to 55-4 in the first innings against New Zealand at Lahore during their 1976 home Test series. By the end of the opening day, they were 349-7. Middle-order batters Javed Miandad and Asif Iqbal plundered identical 160s each and shared 281 runs together for the fifth wicket to take Pakistan to 336.
The hosts were eventually bundled out for 417, which turned out to be more than enough for them to secure a six-wicket win by Day 4 to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. Remarkably, the partnership shared between Asif Iqbal and Javed Miandad continues to remain Pakistan’s largest fifth-wicket stand to date.
