Shakib and Mushfiqur set new Bangladesh record for highest partnership

On a record-breaking day for Bangladesh cricket, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur has set a new highest partnership on the second day of Wellington Test against New Zealand.

Having begun on an overnight 154 for 3, the Tigers ended the second day on 542 for 7 riding on a colossal 359-run fifth-wicket stand between Shakib and Mushfiqur at the Basin Reserve on Friday.

With Shakib at the other end, Mushfiqur danced down the wicket to launch Kane Williamson’s down the ground for a six to eclipse the previous record in style at the Basin Reserve on Friday.

The previous highest partnership for any wicket for Bangladesh was the 312 by openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes against Pakistan at Khulna in April, 2015.

Boosted by a strong start given by Tamim (56) and Mominul Haque (64) in the opening day after being asked to bat by the hosts, Shakib and Mushfiqur’s strokeplay put the hosts at their wits’ end.

After Mushfiqur’s departure for 159 ended the record partnership, Shakib (217) went on to become the third Bangladesh batsman to score a double century, before playing on wearily 15 minutes before the close of play.

Before this Mushfiqur was also involved in Bangladesh’s previous highest fifth-wicket stand -- 267 against Sri Lanka in Galle -- with Mohammad Ashraful at the other end.

It was the first time New Zealand saw a fifth-wicket partnership being stretched past 300 runs against them.