Batting Partnership in Cricket — Records, Types & Why It Matters
A batting partnership is the runs scored while two batsmen are together at the crease. Learn what wicket partnerships are, record stands, and how a strong partnership changes a match.
A **batting partnership** is the total runs scored while two specific batsmen are together at the crease — from the moment one batter arrives until one of them is dismissed. Every time a wicket falls, the partnership ends and a new one begins, so each innings can have up to 10 partnerships (for the 10 wickets).
The 10 Wicket Partnerships
Partnerships are numbered by **wicket**: the 1st-wicket partnership is the opening stand (both openers batting), the 2nd-wicket partnership starts when the first wicket falls, and so on up to the 10th wicket (last two batsmen — the tail-end partnership).
| Partnership | Batsmen Involved | Tactical Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1st wicket (Opening) | Two openers | See off new ball, set platform |
| 2nd–4th wicket (Top order) | Openers + Nos. 3–5 | Build total, set match situation |
| 5th–7th wicket (Middle order) | Nos. 5–8 | Counter-attack or rebuild after top-order collapse |
| 8th–10th wicket (Tail) | Nos. 8–11 | Handy runs, extend innings, frustrate bowlers |
Why Partnerships Matter
- **Scoring momentum:** Two set batsmen scoring together build run rate faster than a stream of singles.
- **Psychological pressure:** A 100-run partnership demoralises the bowling side and forces a captain to reshuffle their attack.
- **Tail wagging:** A last-wicket partnership of 50+ can swing a close Test match — these are often called 'tail wags'.
- **Recovery:** A 5th-wicket partnership of 150 after a top-order collapse can rescue an innings entirely.
Record Partnerships
| Format | Record | Batsmen | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test (any wkt) | 624 — 3rd wkt | Mahela Jayawardene & Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | vs South Africa, Colombo, 2006 |
| ODI (any wkt) | 331 — 1st wkt | Rohit Sharma & Shikhar Dhawan (India) | vs Sri Lanka, Cardiff, 2013 |
| T20I (any wkt) | 229 — 1st wkt | Rahmanullah Gurbaz & Ibrahim Zadran (AFG) | vs Ireland, 2024 |
How Partnerships Appear in a Scorecard
Most scorecards show a **partnership summary** after each innings. It lists each wicket fall, the total at dismissal, and how many runs the two batsmen added together. This allows you to see at a glance whether an innings was built on one big stand or spread across many contributions.
Frequently asked questions
Does a 'partnership' count if both batsmen don't face the ball?
Yes. Even if one batsman faces every ball and the other acts as a non-striker throughout, the runs scored still count as a partnership — it just reflects as 0 balls faced for the non-striker.
What is a 'last-wicket stand'?
The 10th-wicket partnership, involving the No. 10 and No. 11 batsmen. These are often the most dramatic partnerships in Test cricket because they can add unexpected runs when a match appears decided.