Top 5 South African ODI chokes against India

S Sam
Pakistan v India - Twenty20 Championship Final
Harbhajan Singh was the star of the show for India

Ever since South Africa reentered international cricket in the early 1990s, they have proven to be one of the leading teams in all formats of the game. When it comes to their record against India, they have won 45 of the 78 games played between the two sides and needless to say, they have been the dominant team.

India clawed their way back over the last decade and a half and have recorded 30 victories in all. The Men in Blue have recorded some memorable victories against them and some of them have seen South Africa's batting line-up collapse in a heap, thereby resulting in dramatic wins for India.

Here is a look at the 5 most incredible chokes suffered by South African batsmen in one-day internationals against India.


#5 Tri-series game at Centurion Park, 2001

During India's tour to South Africa back in 2001, the team won only one ODI but it was brought about by excellent bowling by the Indian attack and a collapse from the Proteas' top order. India chose to bat first at Centurion Park in a day-night encounter and posted a modest 233 in their 50 overs. Only Rahul Dravid got a half-century (54) and Yuvraj Singh (42) and Virender Sehwag (33) chipped in to ensure that India had something to defend.

Under lights, the Indian bowlers led by Ajit Agarkar and Javagal Srinath started well. Opener Herschelle Gibbs went in the 2nd over but after steadying the innings a bit, Gary Kirsten departed. The collapse started with the dismissal of Neil McKenzie by Anil Kumble in the 14 the over as South Africa were reduced to 66 for 3. The kept losing wickets from then on as Harbhajan Singh (3 for 27) and Kumble tightened the screws. From 66 for 3, they were reduced to 106 for 7 in the space of 10.3 overs. Although the lower order fought back through Kluesener and Boucher, India eventually emerged the winner.

#4 Group game, World Cup 2015, Melbourne

South Africa v India - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup
Another wicket falls in the game

The group game between India and South Africa at Melbourne in the 2015 World Cup was billed as one of the games of the group, due to the stars on show in both teams. Having chosen to bat first, India's innings were powered by a superb century from opener Shikhar Dhawan (137 off 146, 16 fours, 2 sixes) and 79 from Ajinkya Rahane (79 off 60, 7 fours, 3 sixes). They made 307 in 50 overs and although it was a big score, South Africa were expected to give it a good go.

Opener Quinton de Kock went in the 4th over and Hashim Amla followed in the 11th, but Faf du Plessis and South Africa's best batsman AB de Villiers then put together an excellent stand. They were going well and it looked like the game was slowly slipping away from India.

After all, a high asking rate is no problem for the likes of De Villiers and Du Plessis. However, disaster struck for South Africa in the 23rd over when De Villiers was run out and five over later Du Plessis was dismissed by Mohit Sharma. South Africa went from 108 for 2 to 133 for 4 and they kept losing wickets to be all out for 177 in the 41st over. The collapse lasted all of 12.1 overs during the course of which they went from 133 for 3 to 177 all out.

#3 ICC Champions Trophy group game 2017, Oval

The comical Faf du Plessis-David Miller mix up.
The comical Faf du Plessis-David Miller mix up

As far as chaotic South African collapses are concerned, nothing can quite beat the implosion that took place in a group game at the Oval last year in the ICC Champions Trophy. India won the toss and put South Africa into bat. Openers Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla took them off to a steady start.

Amla was dismissed in the 18th over with the scoreboard reading 76-1 and a big score looked like a distinct possibility. De Kock went next with the score at 116 and that brought AB de Villiers to the crease. The partnership between Faf du Plessis and De Villiers was supposed to be the one that would decide South Africa's final score.

With the score at 140, De Villiers went for a risky run and Hardik Pandya's throw to Dhoni found him short of his ground. South Africa were reduced to 140 for 3 and that wicket started the incredible collapse. Miller went 5 balls later after a mix-up with Du Plessis that saw both players running towards the same end and the whole thing became a bit comical.

Wickets kept tumbling as South Africa's innings eventually folded for 191. From 140-2 in the 29th over, they collapsed to 191 all out in the 45th. A collapse for the ages.

India eventually chased down the score in 38 overs.

#2 2nd ODI of 5 match series 2011, Johannesburg

South Africa v India - Second One Day International
A dejected Johan Botha walks back to the pavilion

India have never won an ODI tournament of any kind in South Africa but back in 2011, they came close and in fact, led 2-1 in the series after 3 games. It all started in the 2nd game when India won the game by the slimmest of margins to square the series. MS Dhoni chose to bat first but things did not go to plan for India as they simply could not get going against the South African and crawled to 190 all out in 47.2 overs. Yuvraj Singh top scored for them with a fluent 53 in 68 balls.

South Africa were expected to win and it looked that way when their captain and opener Graeme Smith looked at ease in the middle. Even though India had picked up wickets and reduced South Africa to 120 for 4 (25th over), Smith was still there and it appeared that the hosts would eventually close out the game.

In the 33rd over, India got an opening of sorts when Smith was bowled by Munaf Patel. However, South Africa only needed 39 more to win in 107 deliveries and it was quite clearly their game. However, panic set in when David Miller went in the next over and Johan Botha followed two over later. The batsmen who came in to bat could not keep a calm head and wickets kept tumbling.

South Africa eventually lost 6 wickets in the space of around 11 overs and scored only 37 to lose the game by 1 run. It remains one of the most incredible collapses that South Africa suffered against India.

#1 Champions Trophy Semi-Final 2002, Colombo (Premadasa)

Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar of India celebrate a wicket
Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar celebrate the fall of another wicket

As far as South African chokes go, not many come close to the one that unfolded in humid Premadasa in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final against India, back in 2002. Having won the toss, India decided to bat first and put up 261 on the board. Opener Virender Sehwag scored 59 (58 balls, 10 fours) while Rahul Dravid made 49 (67 balls, 2 fours) and Yuvraj Singh top scored with a fluent 62 (72 balls, 6 fours) at number 6. It was an excellent total in those days and India were definitely in with a chance to reach the final.

Things started looking better when Yuvraj took a stunning catch at point to send back Graeme Smith in the 3rd over but after that, it was hard work for India. Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis then played superbly and put together an outstanding partnership that seemed to have put the game beyond India. Gibbs scored 116 but the humidity got to him and with 70 needed at around run a ball, he had to retire hurt since he was not able to move.

That gave India the opening and Ganguly's introduction of the slow off-spin of Virender Sehwag further complicated matters for the South Africans. On a sluggish pitch, they simply could not get going and wickets started falling one after another. In the space of around 5 overs, they lost 3 wickets and added only 21 runs. Kallis was still there but even he eventually mistimed a shot in the last over of the game and South Africa finished 10 runs short.

Three years after their shock exit from the 1999 World Cup, this game must have been another bitter pill for them.

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Edited by Sankalp Srivastava