Top 3 highest opening partnerships in Test cricket

#2 Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy - 413 runs vs New Zealand, Chennai

Vinoo Mankad is seen in action (Representative image)

The Indian opening pair of Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy held the record of the highest 1st wicket partnership in Test matches played in the 1950s. In fact, this duo owned this prestigious record for over 50 years before it was finally eclipsed many years later.

On a dust bowl in Chennai, India elected to bat first in that game against New Zealand as Mankad essayed a brilliant knock of 231 runs while his opening partner Roy backed him with a century of his own. Their huge opening stand helped India post a total of 537 runs for the loss of 3 wickets before skipper Polly Umrigar decided to declare the innings.

In reply, New Zealand could score only 209 runs in the first innings before being skittled out, courtesy of a five-wicket haul from Subhash Gupte. The home team enforced a follow-on which worked wonders as they bowled the visitors out for 219 runs to seal the Test match win by an innings and 109 runs.