In light of South Africa’s crushing 340-run victory over England at Trent Bridge, we take a look at South Africa’s top five largest margins of victory by runs.
1. South Africa vs New Zealand, Johannesburg 2007 (358 runs)
In the series opener in 2007, the Proteas posted a modest 226 in their first innings. Dale Steyn (5-34) and Makhaya Ntini (3-47) provided great support for the batsmen by skittling the visitors for just 118.
The Proteas’ batsmen made amends in their second dig by piling on 422 runs courtesy of a mammoth 330-run third-wicket stand by Hashim Amla (176*) and Jacques Kallis (186).
The Black Caps’ pursuit of the near-impossible 530-run target was derailed by Steyn yet again. He took wickets throughout the innings to finish with match-figures of 10-93 to complete a resounding win.
2. England vs South Africa, Lord’s 1994 (356 runs)
South Africa made a statement of intent at Lord’s in their first Test in England since readmission. After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, a century from captain Kepler Wessels (105) and 72 from Gary Kirsten propelled SA to 357.
Opening bowlers Allan Donald (5-79) and Fanie de Villiers (3-28) ripped through the England batting lineup to dismiss the hosts for 180. Valuable contributions throughout the Proteas’ second innings saw them set England 455 to win. A tremendous collective effort by the Proteas’ bowlers blew England away for 99 to register their first post-isolation win on English soil.
3. South Africa vs West Indies, Centurion 1999 (351 runs)
Once again Donald embarked on a demolition job, this time West Indies were on the receiving end. ‘White Lightning’ dismantled the Windies’ lower-order by taking three wickets without conceding a run to hand the hosts a first-innings lead of 169.
The Proteas flayed the tourists in their second innings with Herschelle Gibbs (51) and Hansie Cronje (58) amongst the runs. A century from Gary Kirsten (134) at the top of the order and 103 from Cronje helped the hosts reach 399. Paul Adams spun the hosts to victory, finishing with 4-64 to complete a resounding win.
4. England vs South Africa 2017, Nottingham (340 runs)
South Africa embarrassed England in the the second Test at Trent Bridge, dominating with both bat and ball. Although no centuries were scored in the Test match, the Proteas batsmen pumped out 335 in their first innings and 343 in their second.
But although there were some hard fought performances from the likes of Dean Elgar (80), Hashim Amla (78; 87), Quinton de Kock (68), Vernon Philander (54) and Faf du Plessis (63), it was South Africa’s bowling attack who were lethal in knocking over the hosts for 205 and 133 in their two innings. As a result, the Proteas recorded their fourth-largest win margin by runs, sealing a 340-run victory.
5. India vs South Africa, Kolkata 1996 (329 runs)
Bat trumped ball for much of this contest in Kolkata – 1 124 runs being scored in the first three innings of Lance Klusener’s debut. ‘Zulu’, however, made sure that ball had the final say. The India batsmen had no answer to Klusener throughout their chase as the all-rounder single-handedly decimated the hosts, taking an astonishing 8-64 to humble the hosts in the second Test.
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