Ryan Carters and Aaron Finch smashed 503 runs to set an Australian record opening partnership in first class cricket on Friday before the Sydney tour match against New Zealand was abandoned on day two due to the poor quality of the pitch. Explosive one-day international specialist Finch piled on an unbeaten 288, blasting seven sixes and 24 fours for the Cricket Australia XI, while Carters struck a more circumspect 209 on a crumbling wicket at Blacktown International Sports Park.
The stand easily eclipsed the previous Australian record of 456 set by openers Ernie Mayne and Bill Ponsford for Victoria state in 1923-24.
The world record opening stand of 561 was set by Pakistani pair Waheed Mirza and Mansoor Akhtar in a domestic match in 1976-77. The Australian partnership was eventually broken late on Friday morning when Carters slashed at the part-time medium pace of Tom Latham, sending a nick to wicketkeeper BJ Watling.