Top performers in Pink ODIs for South Africa

There is a special connection between South African cricket team and the Pink ODIs which they’ve played over the years. The team has always managed to come out of adverse circumstances and win these games. The trend of playing in Pink jersey began in 2013 as Cricket South Africa (CSA) decided to create more awareness on Breast Cancer and collect funds for donations. The venue picked for the event was the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg which every year buzzes in Pink.

South Africa has won all the six matches so far played on Pink Day and though AB de Villiers has hogged all the limelight in these matches, different players have put their hands up every time. Interestingly, only England ran them close in the six matches which Proteas won by only 1 wicket. The other closest game was against India though the home side won it comfortably in the end with 15 balls to spare.

Here we look at the top performers for South Africa on Pink ODIs:

1. AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla (2013 vs Pakistan)

The first ever Pink ODI South Africa played was against Pakistan in 2013. Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers both were excellent on the day as they slammed centuries for their side after the visitors opted to bowl first after winning the toss. Amla, while opening the innings, scored 122 runs off just 113 deliveries with 10 fours and a solitary six. De Villiers was even quicker and smashed 128 runs off 108 cherries with 12 boundaries and cleared the fences three times comfortably.

As far as the match is concerned, South Africa posted a mammoth total of 343 runs in their 50 overs. Amla and de Villiers stitched a partnership of 238 runs for the third wicket. In reply, Pakistan rode on Shahid Afridi’s 88-run knock off just 48 balls which was also studded with 5 fours and seven gigantic maximums. But fell short of the target by 34 runs as they bundled out for 309 in the 49th over. Amla was named the Man of the Match for his impact innings at the top.

2. Quinton de Kock (2013 vs India)

India was in the firing line this time around as it was the first ODI of the three-match series. Quinton de Kock took the special liking to the Indian bowling after the home side was invited to bat first. He opened the innings with Amla as the duo added 152 runs for the first wicket. De Kock continued to play his delightful strokes and notched up a sensational ton eventually playing a memorable knock of 135 runs after facing just 121 balls. His knock comprised of 18 fours and three sixes which was hailed by many.

South Africa went on to score 358 runs for the loss of four wickets as the score was also boosted by the knock of de Villiers who smashed a quickfire 77 off 47 balls. In response, India never threatened to gun down the total and were skittled out for 217 in 41 overs. MS Dhoni was the only shining light for them as he fought a lone battle for his team scoring 65 runs.

3. AB de Villiers (2015 vs Windies)

AB de Villiers loves the Pink ODI as he brings out his best generally on these days. He was in the different mood on the day and torn apart the bowlers of West Indies. The opening duo of Amla and Rilee Rossouw added 247 runs in 38 overs as both of them smashed centuries. But the carnage was yet to arrive with the Superman of South Africa coming in to bat at number 3. He annihilated the visitors amidst all the Pink celebration and slammed the fastest ODI ton in the history of the game off just 31 deliveries.

He was dismissed off the last ball of the innings scoring 149 off 44 balls with 9 fours and an unbelievable 16 sixes. Proteas posted 439 runs for the loss of just a couple of wickets. West Indies were resigned to their fate already and could only score 291 in 50 overs losing the game by a whopping 148 runs. There were no prizes for guessing about the player of the match as de Villiers grabbed it with both the hands for his record-breaking knock.

4. Chris Morris (2016 vs England)

Next opposition on the Pink ODI for South Africa was England in 2016 exactly a couple of years ago. Chris Morris had delivered a special performance for them after running behind in the game throughout the chase of 263. The all-rounder scored a match-winning knock of 62 runs off just 38 balls with four maximums and three boundaries. He came to bat when the team’s score was 191/6 and was only dismissed when the scores were levelled. Unfortunately, he failed to finish the game for his team but his innings won the match for them.

Earlier, England rode on the century of Joe Root who scored 109 off 124 balls and the half-century from Alex Hales. But they had collapsed early in the innings to 108/6 and it was only due to Root’s heroics that they managed to reach 262 in their 50 overs. His knock had almost won them the game, but Morris denied them and kept the winning record intact for South Africa.

5. Dwaine Pretorius (2017 vs Sri Lanka)

Sri Lanka travelled Johannesburg to stay alive in the series by beating the hosts in a Pink ODI. But the pacer Dwaine Pretorius had different ideas on the day as he bamboozled their batting line-up by picking three key wickets with the ball. The well-set Nirsohan Dickwella, Lahiru Madhushanka and Suranga Lakmal were sent packing by the bowler as he ended with the figures of 3/19 in his seven overs in which he also bowled a couple of maidens. Sri Lanka were skittled out for 163 in the 40th over, the target which was never a challenging one for the home side.

They chased it down with 18 overs to spare and seven wickets in hand and also won the series. It had become a norm until then that AB de Villiers will perform on Pink Day. He scored an unbeaten 60 and won the match along with JP Duminy who scored 28 runs as well.

6. Heinrich Klaasen (2018 vs India)

The recent victory over India was really special for the boys in Pink as their backs were completely against the wall. They were 0-3 down in the series and had to win the fourth ODI to stay alive in the six-match series. First, they restricted India to 289 after 50 overs and then chased down the curtailed total of 202 runs within 28 overs. Heinrich Klaasen was the new hero for them this time who was playing only in the second game of his career.

He came out to bat when all the hopes of South Africa winning were dashed with the wicket of de Villiers. Klaasen played unorthodox shots and unsettled the Indian wrist-spinners who had made life difficult for them until then. The strategy worked perfectly as they crumbled under the pressure. He stayed until the end and won the match for South Africa by scoring 41 of just 27 deliveries.