The iconic 368-run partnership (Source: @ICC/x.com)
Thrills may touch the sky in the T20 format, but the Test is not just a format that is the ultimate test of the sheer patience and grit which can bring out the ultimate best out of a player. Over the years, the longest format of the game has delivered moments of sheer brilliance, testing players to their limits while offering fans unforgettable dramas that unfold ball by ball.
Since the beginning of the game, Pakistan ruled the world with their unreal pace, South African showcased dominance for the long. Yet, the drama reached new heights in the second Test between the two giants, when a Pakistani bowler endured a nightmare spell that left fans stunned and the game hanging on an edge.
During the match, Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs crafted a masterful partnership that put Pakistan on the back foot, their first-innings brilliance dominating the Men in Green. Let’s revisit the day when Smith and Gibbs’ brilliance shattered the record books.
Smith-Gibbs tear through Pakistan in monumental 368-run stand
In the cricket world, Pakistan and South Africa’s face offs and in the longest format their encounter brings different kinds of entertainment. Among all, their encounter in a two-match Test series in 2002-03 was a pure thrill. South Africa started the series with a dominating victory in the first match and channeled their exceptional firm in the second match.
While batting first in the game, South African side gave Pakistan a timeless trauma as Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs’ ruthless batting shattered the big stage. As the duo came to open the innings, they started hitting the lethal Pakistani bowlers all over the ground.
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While pushing the side towards a great total, the duo piled up good runs and Pakistani bowlers had a nightmare on the field. After Graeme Smith scored an exceptional half-century, he turned it into a brilliant ton. After missing out on the World Cup squad, his knock was a sharp reply to the selectors. On the flip side, Gibbs proved to be more heavy on the opponent side.
Crossing the century and 150-run mark, he kept his dominance alive as he smashed a thrilling double ton. With that double century, it was the second fastest Test double hundred in terms of ball faced. Before Saqlain Mushtaq dismissed Herschelle Gibbs, the South African batter faced a classic knock of 228 runs in 240 balls with 26 boundaries and six over-boundaries.
Moreover their finest knocks, their 368-run stand shattered the record books as it became the sixth highest opening wicket partnership in Test history. Facing a below-par Pakistani attack, the South African duo showcased a masterclass in dominance, turning the innings into a textbook display of batting excellence.
After South Africa put up a massive total of 620 runs, Pakistan’s first innings ended in just 252 runs. After the Proteas gave them a follow-on, Pakistan ended their second innings in just 226 runs. With that dominance, South Africa won the match by an innings and 142 runs.
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