DHAKA, Feb 24: South Africa’s Mark Boucher surpassed Australian Adam Gilchrist as the wicket-keeper with the most Test dismissals in the opening Test against Bangladesh here on Sunday.

The 31-year-old claimed his 417th wicket on the third day of the match when he caught Mushfiqur Rahim for two off Jaques Kallis.

Gilchrist, who announced his retirement from international cricket last month, finished with 416 Test dismissals.

Boucher and Gilchrist were involved in a battle for the coveted record but now with the Australian having bowed out, Boucher looks set to keep it.

The South African was first to break the long-standing record of Australian Ian Healy (395) against Pakistan in October last year but lost it to Gilchrist during Australia’s fourth Test against India in Adelaide last month.

He is also the fastest South African wicket-keeper to reach 50 and 100 Test dismissals.

Boucher had earlier said he wanted Gilchrist to extend his career by a year so the world’s top two Test wicket-keepers could have one final showdown.

Australia are hosting a three-Test series against the Proteas next season before a return series in South Africa and Boucher said he was disappointed Gilchrist would not be part of it.

Boucher told reporters he planned to play for another seven to eight years.

“It probably would be quite a difficult record to break. I have got time on my side and the longer you play, the more records you will break,” he said.—Agencies