On this day in 2000, South Africa broke a 13-year record by becoming the first visiting side to beat India in a Test series, after wins in Mumbai and Bengaluru.
After beating India in Mumbai by 4 wickets in Mumbai, the series decider took place in Bengaluru/Bangalore.
The match lasted the full 5 days, with the final day, on 6 March, sealing the victory for South Africa.
It started with a collective bowling display from South Africa who bundled over the hosts for 158 runs, with all six of the Proteas’ bowlers picking up wickets – Allan Donald (1/31), Shawn Pollock (2/26), Nantie Hayward (2/40), Hansie Cronje (1/17), Jacques Kallis (1/18) and Nicky Boje (2/10) shared the destruction.
South Africa then put mimicked their bowlers with a collective batting display to put on 479, with crucial half-centuries from Gary Kirsten (79), nightwatchman Nicky Boje (85), Jacques Kallis (95), Daryll Cullinan (53) and Lance Klusener (97).
This set India a daunting task. Despite a middle-order 102 from Mohammad Azharuddin, India were bowled out for 250.
Nicky Boje was the chief destroyer, taking 5/83, which was key to destroying India.
One of our chief writers, Alasdair Fraser, remembers this feat, and had this to say about the historic win:
“Beating India in a Test series away is no mean feat and when the Proteas achieved that great result it was nothing short of miraculous.
“To show the magnitude of what Hansie Cronje’s men did, you have to look ahead to Australia’s series defeat a season later. The invincible Baggy Greens succumbed to India in dramatic fashion.
“What stood out for me was Nicky Boje’s golden season. He was viewed as a spinner who could bat but that season Boje had a golden run with the bat.
“The second Test saw him come in as nightwatchmen after Gibbs’ dismissal and score a brilliant knock of 85 and then take five wickets, which helped set up the innings defeat.
“It was a major silver lining after the 1999 World Cup heartbreak and one of Cronje’s golden moments. Sadly to be his last Test before the match-fixing scandal rocked South Africa’s cricketing core.”
Photo: ICC Twitter
