OTD: Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow’s 399-run stand in Cape Town set new record for the sixth wicket in Tests in 2016

England Cricket Team, in the last decade, were considered one of the best sides in Test Cricket. With the likes of Alastair Cook, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Jonny Bairstow, the English side was the team to beat. 

The English team had begun their South African sojourn with a win in the first Test by 241 runs. It was a one-sided performance during the Boxing Day Test Match in Durban as the home side were bowled out for 174 runs while chasing a 416-run target. 

Cape Town was the venue for the New Year’s game as the two sides met for the second Test. Stokes and Bairstow showed their talents with the bat as the two combined to create a new record against the hapless South African side. 

Bairstow and Stokes create new record – 

England skipper Alastair Cook won the toss and elected to bat first in Cape Town. Kagiso Rabada got the big wicket of Cook for 27 before Alex Hales and Nick Compton joined forces. The two added 74-runs for the second wicket before Hales was out for 60 followed by the wicket of Compton for 45. 

James Taylor was out for a first ball duck but Joe Root kept the fight going before he perished for a well-made 50. At 223/5 the South African bowlers were well in control of the game. Sadly, that was the only joy they got for the next few sessions of play. 

Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow added 399-runs for the sixth wicket to create a new record in Test Cricket. The pair scored the runs in just 346 balls to deflate the South African pace attack. 

In what was a precursor to the Baz-Ball days the pair went after each and every Proteas pacer on the park. Ben Stokes became the fastest man to score 250 runs in Test Cricket when he got to the score in just 196 balls. 

Jonny Bairstow was equally severe as he cut, pulled, hooked, and drove the opposition bowlers to all parts of the Newlands Ground. The double century for Ben Stokes came in 163 balls going past the fastest 200 scored by a left-handed batter. Adam Gilchrist had held the previous record scoring his 200 versus South Africa off just 212 deliveries in 2002. 

By the time Stokes was out for 258 runs, the batter had scored the highest individual score for a player batting at number six in Test Cricket. Doug Walter held the record for nearly 39-years when he scored 250 versus New Zealand. 

The records did not stop there, the English all-rounder had scored 130 runs in the pre-luncheon session of day two. This was the most by any batter for nearly 81 years. Les Ames had scored 123 runs at the Oval during a Test versus South Africa in 1935. 

Bairstow and Stokes 399-run stand had broken a record which was created in 2015. Kane Williamson and BJ Watling had scored 365 runs for the sixth wicket during the Wellington Test versus Sri Lanka. 

The pair also went past the 19-year-old record set by Steve Waugh and Greg Blewett against South Africa. During the Johannesburg Test in 1997, Waugh and Blewett had added 385 runs which was the record against South Africa in South Africa. 

Records continued to tumble as England had shown their ruthlessness by scoring at over 8 runs per over. The visiting side scored 312 runs inside 39 overs to fly the South African attack to each and every part of the ground. With 11 sixes Ben Stokes fell one short of the 12-sixes mark by Wasim Akram which is the most hit by any batter in Test Cricket. 

England declared their innings 629/6 before South Africa scored 627 runs. Hashim Amla led the charge with 201 runs as Temba Bavuma scored 102 runs. AB De Villiers, Faf Du Plessis, and Chris Morris scored half centuries. The game ended in a tame draw but the fans and record books weren’t complaining after watching such an entertaining game. 

Also read: OTD: Mohammad Azharuddin announced his entry in Cricket with century on debut against England in 1985