Top 5 India v South Africa clashes in ODIs

4. ICC Knockout Trophy, 2000: Gymkhana Club Ground, Nairobi

In the year 2000, when South Africa met India in the semi-final of the ICC Knockout Trophy, it was an emotional game. A lot had happened that year, the match-fixing scandal involving both their previous captains. There was a lot of pressure on the players as a lot was talked about the things off the field rather than the game itself. However, once the game started, everything else was put to rest.

India had won the toss and as most captains would do in big games, Saurav Ganguly, chose to bat. Leading from the front, he scored a brilliant unbeaten century at almost run-a-ball (141 off 142 balls). With contributions from Sachin, Dravid, and a young Yuvraj Singh, India went on to score an imposing total of 295. For those who missed out on cricket in the 90s and early 2000s, anything close to 300 back then was mammoth.

South Africa crumbled under pressure yet again, losing wickets at regular intervals; they were hardly in the hunt. Boucher played the lone hand scoring a 60, without any support from the top order, it was hardly ever going to be a challenge. India won the game by 95 runs while SA crashed out, India went on to the finals, only to lose against the Kiwis, in what is still the only major competition New Zealand have won.