South Africa's 5 best overseas performances during their 9-year unbeaten period

India’s series-clinching victory in the 3rd Test of the Gandhi-Mandela series has ended an incredible unbeaten run for South Africa in the longest format of the game. Since a 0-2 loss against Sri Lanka way back in the year 2006, South Africa had not lost a Test series, home or away, for 9 years until now.The Proteas have always been known to be extremely strong in home conditions, but it has been their exploits overseas during their unbeaten streak which have earned them the respect of the cricketing world. Here we focus on some of their most striking performances in series played away from home in the past 9 years:

#1 South Africa in Australia Test Series, 2008/09

South Africa recorded one of their most memorable series wins in Australia

Opponent Team:Australia

Victory Margin: 2-1

Perhaps the most cherished victory for South Africa during their 9-year unbeaten streak in Test cricket was the one they registered on Australian soil in the 2008/09 season. The South Africans dominated most part of the 3-Test series and already had the series in the bag even before the 3^rdTest was played.

Both wins registered by the Proteas in the series came at venues which are considered fortresses for the Australians at home, Perth and Melbourne. In the 1^stTest at Perth, South Africa won courtesy of the second most successful run chase in cricket history when they brought down the mammoth target of 414 set by Australia.

The 2^ndTest at Melbourne saw a much more commanding display from the visitors as they won comprehensively by 9 wickets and took an unassailable lead in the series. Even though they lost the 3^rdTest at Sydney by 103 runs, South Africas 2-1 series victory is easily one of the best performances by anyteam in Australia.

#2 South Africa in England Test Series, 2012

The Proteas registered a famous win over England in 2012

Opponent Team:England

Victory Margin: 2-0

No one has beaten England at home in the past 5 years or so in the manner in which the South African team did it in the year 2012. What also made South Africas 2-0 victory more special was the fact that they displaced the hosts to claim the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings.

Riding on a Hashim Amla triple century, the Proteas trounced England in the first Test at the Kennington Oval while the home team managed to salvage a draw in the 2^ndTest at Leeds. The South Africans completed a51-run victory in the final Test at Lords and registered an emphatic series win over a strong English side.

This was one of the highlights of South Africas 9-year long unbeaten run in Test matches.

#3 South Africa in Sri Lanka Test Series, 2014

Amla’s men conquered Sri Lanka in 2014

Opponent Team: Sri Lanka

Victory Margin: 1-0

It is never easy to beat Sri Lanka in their home conditions, especially for teams which are not from the sub-continent. However, the South African team did manage to pull off a series victory against the Lankans in their own backyard.

Although the bowling was not as formidable as was the case in some of the earlier teams from the island nation, the Sri Lankan batting was still at par with best in the world. In the 1st Test of the 2-match series, South Africa recorded an easy victory by a margin of 153 runs.

The 2nd Test at SSC Colombo, however, saw the visitors battle it out to salvage a draw with oly 2 wickets in hand when play ended on Day 5. The series could have easily ended with a 1-1 result, had it not been for the steely resolve shown by the Proteas batsmen on the last day

#4 South Africa in Australia Test Series, 2012/13

South Africa cemented themselves on top of the ICC Test rankings

Opponent Team:Australia

Victory Margin: 1-0

There is something about the Australia-South Africa rivalry which makes the contests between these two teams very special. Over the past decade or so though, the Proteas have been on top on most occasions in Tests, whether it is at home or Down Under.

A prime example of this came in the year 2012 when they beat the Australians 1-0 in a Test series played at the latter teams home. The first two Tests in the 3-match series played at Brisbane and Adelaide respectively ended in a stalemate, the Adelaide one being a hard fought draw enforced by South Africa.

The decider at Perth saw the South Africans pull the rabbit out of the hat as they pummeled the home team by 309 runs to clinch the series and re-affirm their No. 1 spot in the ICC team rankings in Tests. In the process, they also managed to spoil the legendary Ricky Pontings farewell party.

This was the 2^ndinstance of the Proteas beating the Aussies at home during their 9-year unbeaten period.

#5 South Africa in Pakistan Test Series, 2009

A series win in Pakistan was one of South Africa’s achievements in this period

Opponent Team: Pakistan

Victory Margin: 1-0

One of the best performances for South Africa during their record 9-year unbeaten run was the series vicotry against Pakistan in 2009. It was Inzamam-ul-Haq’s farewell series, but the South Africans ensured that it did not end up being a good one for the Pakistani batting stalwart.

Jacques Kallis’ twin centuries in the 1st Test played at Karachi helped the Proteas flatten the home side as they completed a comfortable 160-run victory. The 2nd Test at Lahore saw Pakistan ensure a draw despite a batting debacle in their first innings, even as South Africa pocketed the series 1-0.

This victory added yet another feather in the cap of one of the strongest sides in Test cricket in recent times.