Record-Breaking Performance in the Champions Trophy
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 witnessed a stellar performance as Bangladesh's Towhid Hridoy and Jaker Ali rewrote history against India. Playing in Dubai on February 20, 2025, during the Group A clash, they managed an exceptional 154-run partnership for the sixth wicket. This feat set a new benchmark for the highest sixth-wicket stand in both the tournament’s and Bangladesh's ODI history.
The partnership came after Bangladesh's daunting start, where the team crumbled to 35/5. Facing fierce opposition from India’s spin trio of Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav, Hridoy and Ali held their ground under intense pressure. They capitalized on missed opportunities, including a pivotal dropped hat-trick chance by Patel and a late-game drop by Hardik Pandya.
Surpassing Previous Records
The previous record for the highest sixth-wicket partnership in the Champions Trophy was held by South Africa’s Mark Boucher and Justin Kemp, with 131 runs, set in 2006. The Bangladeshi duo not only surpassed this but also outdid their national record of an unbeaten 150-run partnership against the West Indies in December 2024. Furthermore, this remarkable stand became Bangladesh's highest against India in ODIs. Notable past partnerships in the tournament history now fall short in comparison, such as New Zealand's Chris Cairns and Chris Harris' 122-run partnership against India in 2000 and India's Rahul Dravid and Mohammad Kaif's 117-run effort versus Zimbabwe in 2002.
Wrapping up Bangladesh's innings at a competitive 228 runs, the breakthrough performance of Hridoy and Ali laid down a gauntlet for future matches in the tournament. Their ability to transform a dire situation into a celebrated record underlines the spirit and tenacity the team displayed amid challenging conditions.
March 11 2025 0
Write a comment