Justin Kemp’s ODI century against India in 2006 will go down as his finest moment in national colours.
Kemp, who turns 39 today, was primed for an illustrious career across all the formats for the Proteas as a youngster, but the big-hitting all-rounder would eventually have to settle for a career as a limited-overs specialist.
Battling for form and opportunities with the bat as a No 7 in the ODI side, on top of being used sparingly as a bowler, Kemp was due a big performance to reinforce his worth to the side. He duly delivered in the third ODI against India in November 2006.
Coming in with the side in all kinds of problems on 71-5, Kemp took a long time to get going. At one point he was on 14 off 41 boundary-less balls. That was when the carnage began with Shaun Pollock and Andrew Hall willing partners at the back-end of the innings. 108 runs were scored off the last 10 overs and Kemp’s second fifty came off 22 balls, as he brought up his first, and only, ODI century, off 89 balls.
South Africa would go on to win the match by 106 runs before winning the series 4-0.
He went on to play 85 ODIs for the Proteas, hitting one century and 10 fifties, before losing his place in the side in late-2007.
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
