In preparation for the T20 series against Sri Lanka, we take a look at the top T20I performances for the Proteas.
Richard Levi smashes 117 not out:
After losing the first match against New Zealand in February 2012, the Proteas were in desperate need of a win to keep a series victory alive. New Zealand posted 173-4 and it was up to the Proteas to chase down that total. Levi led from the front and smashed 117 not out off 51 balls to claim an eight-wicket victory at Hamilton. This remains his highest T20I score and it was vital as the Proteas went on to win the series 2-1.
Ryan McLaren bags 5-19:
The 2010 tour of the West Indies ended as a tour whitewash for the Proteas, who were unbeaten in all three formats, drawing only the second Test. In the first of the two T20s, McLaren bagged the Man of the Match award for his five-for. South Africa posted a low total of 136-7 with Jacques Kallis bagging the top score with 53 off 45 balls. With the West Indies boasting big hitters such as Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard, the Proteas needed to put in a magnificent shift to bowl them out. McLaren bowled phenomenally ending with figures 5-19, including the wickets of Gayle and Pollard. SA sealed a 13-run victory going up 1-0.
Faf du Plessis’ 119:
In the deciding match against the West Indies at the Wanderers in January 2015, South Africa needed to put in a good effort to level the series after going 1-0 down. Captain Du Plessis put in an awesome performance, hitting 119 off 56 balls, and with the help from David Miller (47 off 26 balls) put on a third-wicket partnership of 105. This is Du Plessis’ highest T20 score and the Proteas posted 231-7. Although the Windies cruised past the total, scoring 236-6 as they claimed the series with a four-wicket victory, Du Plessis’ performance still remains the highest ever score by a South African.
Graeme Smith and Loots Bosman’s record partnership:
November 201o marked the day of the highest T20 partnership in South Africa’s history. Smith and Bosman put on the second highest partnership in T20 history with their 170 for the first wicket at centurion against England. Smith hit 88 of 44 balls (eight fours and six sixes) and Bosman bettered that hitting 94 off 45 balls (five fours and nine sixes) as SA posted 241-6. England slumped to 157-8 as SA levelled the two-match series with an 84-run win.
David Wiese’s five-for against the Windies:
The 31-year-old recorded his best ever career stats when he took 5-23 and hit 21 off 16 balls in SA’s final match against the West Indies in January 2015. The match was insignificant to the final outcome of the series which the Windies won 2-1, but his performance was vital to a win in the final match.
