5 highest tenth wicket partnerships for South Africa in Tests

Overview

• The 107-run stand between AB De Villiers and Morne Morkel against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in 2010 is the highest for South Africa for the tenth wicket in Tests
• In 1929, Tuppy Owen-Smith and Sandy Bell posted 103 runs for the tenth wicket at Headingley against England
• In 2020, Keshav Maharaj and Dane Paterson posted 99 runs for the last wicket in the Gqeberha Test against England

During the first innings of the second Test of the 2025 series against Pakistan, South Africa posted 404 after being reduced to 235/8 at one point. From there, the South African lower order batters like Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthuswamy, and Kagiso Rabada helped the visiting side to claim a fine lead of 71 runs in the Rawalpindi Test.

While Maharaj and Muthuswamy posted 71 runs for the ninth wicket, which was already impressive by itself, it was the tenth wicket stand between Senuran Muthuswamy and Kagiso Rabada which stole the show. Among them, the latter scored 71(61), which included 4 fours and sixes each. His fifty came in just 37 balls, one of the fastest for SA in Tests.

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5 highest tenth wicket partnerships for South Africa in Tests

Percy Sherwell and Bert Vogler (94 runs against England in 1906 at Cape Town)

Back in the early 1900s when South Africa was still emerging as a cricket team, they pulled off a great feat. In the Cape Town Test against England in 1906, the duo of Sherwell and Vogler posted 94 runs for the tenth wicket. It played a massive role in the Test match, as South Africa posted 303 after being reduced to 239/9 and won the Test by an innings and 16 runs.

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Senuran Muthuswamy and Kagiso Rabada (98 runs against Pakistan in 2025 at Rawalpindi)

The tenth wicket stand between Senuran Muthuswamy and Kagiso Rabada in the Rawalpindi 2025 Test against Pakistan stole the show. Among them, the latter scored 71(61), which included 4 fours and sixes each. His fifty came in just 37 balls, one of the fastest for SA in Tests. Muthuswamy remained unbeaten at 89*(155).

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Keshav Maharaj and Dane Paterson (99 runs against England in 2020 at Gqeberha)

It was the third Test of the 2020 series between England and South Africa in Gqeberha. England batted first and posted 499/9 before declaring their innings. In reply to it, SA was dismissed for 209 and had to follow on. In the second innings, the home side was reduced for 138/9, when Paterson and Maharaj posted 99 runs for the last wicket.

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Tuppy Owen-Smith and Sandy Bell (103 runs against England in 1929 at Leeds)

In 1929, Tuppy Owen-Smith and Sandy Bell posted 103 runs for the tenth wicket at Headingley against England. The partnership could not help SA, as they lost the match by 5 wickets in the end. It remained the highest 10th wicket partnership for SA for 79 years.

AB De Villiers and Morne Morkel (107* runs against Pakistan in 2010 at Abu Dhabi)

The 107-run stand between AB De Villiers and Morne Morkel against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in 2010 is the highest for South Africa for the tenth wicket in Tests. On a flat deck, there seemed to be no possibility of a result and both the sides batted as long as possible. De Villiers remained unbeaten at 278*(418), his highest score in Tests.