With all cricket events either postponed or cancelled, SA Cricket magazine looks back at seven of the best knocks by Proteas players in T20Is.
- Herschelle Gibbs vs West Indies 2007 (90* off 55)
In the opening match of the inaugural T20 World Cup, staged in South Africa, Gibbs anchored the hosts’ innings at the Wanderers to chase down a massive total of 206 after Chris Gayle smacked 117 off 57 deliveries. But, the Proteas opener’s knock was equally impressive, hitting 14 fours and two sixes to steer the Proteas home in the 17th over.
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- Richard Levi vs New Zealand 2012 (117* off 51)
It was the very first time a Proteas player had reached three figures in T20Is and it was one of the fine innings in South African cricket history. Requiring 174 for victory in Hamilton, Levi went all guns blazing at the top of the order, blasting a mammoth 13 sixes and five fours in his innings that handed the Proteas an eight-wicket victory with four overs to spare.
- AB de Villiers vs England 2016 (71 off 29)
In the final encounter of the two-match series, the Proteas were eager to seal a win having won the first T20I two days earlier in the Cape Town. On a perfect batting pitch in Johannesburg, the Proteas needed only 172 runs for the win. De Villiers was as fluent as ever, opening the batting with Hashim Amla. He took a particular liking to Chris Jordan as he struck a total of six sixes and six fours and the Proteas came home with nine wickets in hand.
- David Miller vs Bangladesh 2017 (101* off 36)
A ton for the ages by the South African big hitter, who in the process broke the record for the fastest century in T20I cricket. Miller was in a devastating mood as the Proteas eyed a big score to set the visitors in Potchefstroom. The left-hander delivered the needed spark down the order and reached the milestone in the final over of the innings as the Proteas posted 224-4 in their 20 overs. In reply, Bangladesh were dismissed for 141 in the 19th over.
- Loots Bosman vs England 2009 (94 off 45)
The Proteas needed to respond after losing the opening T20I with the hope of levelling the series in Centurion. Bosman and Graeme Smith sent the English bowlers all around Supersport Park as they raced to a 170-run partnership for the opening stand. But, Bosman, in particular, was quite aggressive as he hit nine sixes and five fours at a strike rate of 208. It helped the Proteas reach 241 before England could get only 157-8 in their 20 overs.
- Morne van Wyk vs West Indies 2015 (114* off 70)
With the West Indies already having sealed the three-match series, the Proteas were looking to salvage some pride in Durban. Van Wyk was short on runs for the whole series but he produced a fine knock at his home ground with seven sixes and nine fours, accounting for the third-highest score in T20Is for the Proteas. They would go on to win the match by 69 runs as well.
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- Faf du Plessis vs West Indies 2015 (119 off 56)
The highest score by a South African batsman in the format on the international stage. The captain made for another spectacle at the Wanderers that will long be remembered by South African cricket fans. The Proteas batted first against a star-studded West Indies team and needed to post a big score. Du Plessis came in at No 3 and sent their bowlers all over the place with 11 fours and five sixes. Unfortunately, the Proteas’ total of 231-7 wasn’t enough as the West Indies chased it down with four deliveries remaining.
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