- 415 runs by Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith against Bangladesh in 2008
The second Test of the two-Test 2007-08 series between South Africa and Bangladesh was played at Chittagong Divisional Stadium, Chittagong, between 29th February and 3rd March 2008.
South Africa, led by Graeme Smith, elected to bat. The opening pair of Neil McKenzie and Smith proved to be really tough for the ‘not much experienced’ young Bangladeshi bowlers.
The duo stayed together for 406 minutes and put up a mammoth 415 runs for the first wicket.
Smith was the first to go in the third delivery of the 93rd over, trying to sweep a full-flighted and straight delivery from Abdur Razzak which ended up disturbing ‘the furniture’ behind him.
Facing 277 deliveries in 406 minutes and after dispatching the red-leather 33 times to the ropes and once beyond, the SA skipper notched up 232 runs. His first century came off 127 balls with the help of 15 fours. His second hundred came after facing 238 deliveries with 28 fours and a six.
McKenzie who was on 170 runs aided by 20 fours and 3 sixes at the time of Smith’s departure, got to his second century off 198 deliveries aided by 13 fours and a six. Eventually, he went on to score 227 runs off 388 balls with 28 fours and 3 sixes while reaching his double-ton after 350 balls with 24 fours and 3 sixes.
The SA openers sent the Bangladesh fielders on a ‘leather hunt’ and won the game by an innings and 205 runs.
