With the Proteas’ crunch game against India on Sunday approaching, SACricketmag.com looks back at five ODI encounters between these two sides and picks a winner.
India have never beaten South Africa at a World Cup. The teams have met only three times in the tournament – 1992, 1999 and 2011 – with South Africa winning all three. Even though the Proteas beat India by three wickets in the group stage in 2011, the hosts still went on to win the tournament, while Graeme Smith’s men crashed out against New Zealand.
The Proteas have won their last two ODI series at home to the Indians, while Sachin Tendulkar hit them to shreds in a series in 2010 when he became the first player in history to score a double-hundred in a 50-over innings.
Captain Roop Singh Stadium, February 2010
India beat South Africa by 153 runs
This was the game in which Tendulkar rewrote the history books, smashing an unbeaten 200 from just 147 balls to propel India to 401-3 in their 50 overs. He was well supported by Dinesh Karthik (79) and MS Dhoni (68 no). Wayne Parnell (2-95) and Dale Steyn (0-89) were smashed to all corners of the stadium, before the Proteas were bowled out for a mere 248, with only AB de Villiers (114 no) showing any resistance.
Kingsmead, Durban, November 2006
South Africa beat India by 157 runs
This victory was largely due to a Man-of-the-Match performance by the legendary Jacques Kallis, who scored an unbeaten 119 with South Africa posting 248-8. India were then bowled out for just 91. Andre Nel claimed 4-13 in eight overs, but it was Kallis who was sensational, ending on figures of 3-3 in 4.1 overs.
Nagpur, India (2011 World Cup group match)
South Africa beat India by three wickets
Tendulkar had a good record against South Africa, again scoring 111 off 101 balls, even though Dale Steyn took 5-50 in 9.4 overs. The Proteas reached 300-7 with two balls to spare after Hashim Amla (61), Jacques Kallis (69) and AB De Villiers (52) laid the foundation at the top of the order.
Jaipur, India, February 2010
India beat South Africa by 1 run
The closest winning margin between these two teams; and it has happened twice. India batted first and reached 298-9, with only Suresh Raina (58) reaching 50 runs or more. Jacques Kallis took 3-29 in seven overs. He almost pulled off a famous win in the chase, scoring 89, but lost his wicket in the 43rd over which all but handed India the victory. Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell did well batting in the tail, but after Steyn fell it was up to Parnell and Charl Langeveldt to get 10 runs from the last over. Parnell was dramatically run-out off the last ball of the over, just one run short of levelling the scores.
Newlands, Cape Town, January 2011
India beat South Africa by two wickets
South Africa had to defend 221 after only JP Duminy (52) and Faf du Plessis (60) managed to get scores against the Indian attack. The hosts must have thought they had a good chance to win it, with India struggling on 93-5, before Suresh Raina (37) and Yusuf Pathan (59) steadied the innings which enabled Harbhajan Singh (23 no) to bat out the innings and secure the victory.
Our prediction for Sunday’s match: South Africa by 10 runs
