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- Sunday’s second ODI between the Proteas and Pakistan in the Wanderers will be the ninth annual Pink Day event.
- Temba Bavuma and his troops will be desperate to rekindle their winning form in this encounter.
- Sport24 takes a closer look at the exciting history of the Pink jamboree.
While Covid-19 means the occasion will have no fans present, Sunday’s second ODI between the Proteas and Pakistan at the Wanderers will be the ninth annual Pink Day event.
South Africa dominated one of the biggest events on the local cricket calendar before their same opponents this weekend abruptly stopped a six-win sequence two years ago.
That loss sparked a hangover against world champions England last season, leaving Temba Bavuma and his troops desperate to rekindle their habit of winning in this encounter.
Sport24 review the history of the Pink jamboree.
March 17, 2013 vs. Pakistan: Proteas won by 34 runs
CSA couldn’t have asked for a more exciting match to kick off the event.
After stumbling to 42/2 at 14 against a quality attack, it was hardly credible that South Africa finished at 343/5.
Hashim Amla was typically graceful in crafting 122 of 113 deliveries and had a perfect contrast on AB de Villiers, who hit a 128 of 108 balls as the two men added a record of 238 for the third wicket.
Faf du Plessis crashed an undefeated 45 against 19.
The Proteas seemed headed for a comfortable victory before Shahid Afridi produced the kind of showmanship only he was capable of.
Seven sixes flew from his sword as he broke a magnificent 88 of 48 balls, the highlight being the maximum that was shot over the Centenary Stand after he was castled without a ball the previous delivery.
Quirky Pink ODI Statistics
* Total Proteas average after the first three matches was a 380 mammoth
* AB de Villiers scored 450 runs in five Pink ODI innings with an average of 112.50
* 439/2 against the West Indies in 2015 remains South Africa’s highest score on ODI.
* The accessory has traditionally been tough on bowlers. Only twice in 8 games have bowlers taken four or more wickets in one inning. Kagiso Rabada won 4/45 against England in 2016, while Pakistan’s Usman Shinwari 4/35 in 2019 are the best figures of the match.
December 5, 2013 v India – Proteas won by 141 runs
South Africa had something to prove after BCCI’s showdown with CSA over the appointment of then-CEO Haroon Lorgat meant that a lucrative tour was reduced to the core.
Having made a breakthrough with an inaugural ODI century a few weeks ago against Pakistan, Quinton de Kock began working on his superstar status with a splendid 135 of 121.
He had great support from Amla, who did 65.
De Villiers (77 not out) and JP Duminy (59 not out) applied the brutal finishing touch to a hefty total of 358/5.
The Indians were listless with the bat as only MS Dhoni (65) offered real resistance against a menacing attack led by Dale Steyn, who finished 3/25.
January 18, 2015 vs. West Indies – Proteas won by 148 runs
Despite numerous records being eclipsed that day, only one stood out: De Villiers’ stupendous hundred of 31 balls.
After Amla, who would finish an undefeated 153, and Rilee Rossouw put in 247 for the first wicket, the Proteas pattern unleashed an astonishing variety of punches as he galloped into the fastest ODI century in history.
He hit an incredible 16 sixes on his way to 149 out, wait, 44 balls to leave the West Indian bowlers in shock.
Armed with a total of 439/2, the South African bowlers did not fire at full speed, but they still had too much firepower for the visitors.
February 12, 2016 against England – Proteas won by 1 wicket
South Africa’s undefeated record in the match was threatened multiple times in another classic encounter.
Chasing 263, the hosts appeared dead and buried when England cut them down to 210/8.
If the visitors had pounced, they would have taken series honors as well.
However, they did not count on the audacious assault of Chris Morris.
Finding a good ally in Kyle Abbott, the lanky off-roader took advantage of the strike and flew to 62 with just 38 deliveries to save the bacon on his side.
Previously, Joe Root made a classy 109 when Kagiso Rabada and Imran Tahir shared seven wickets.
Feb 4, 2017 v Sri Lanka – Proteas won by 7 wickets
The only real thrill in an anticlimactic encounter was when the game had to stop for 65 minutes when a swarm of bees descended on the Plaza de Toros.
A bucket of cola and fire extinguishers were used in an attempt to disperse them, but nothing worked until Pierre Heefer, an amateur beekeeper, ran to the ground to offer his expertise after watching the “drama” on television.
Once play resumed, Sri Lanka fell to 163 against a disciplined and varied attack.
De Villiers’ undefeated 60 made the Proteas mission a breeze.
Feb 10, 2018 v India – Proteas won by 5 wickets
Haunted by injuries and under pressure due to poor form, South Africa was once again on the defensive against a rampant Indian XI.
Rohit Sharma (109) and Virat Kohli (75) were driving the visitors before a good comeback in the second half of innings saw the hosts restrict their opponents to 289/7.
A thunderstorm meant that the Proteas’ task became decidedly complicated, as they had 28 overs to do 202.
After a shaky start, David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen belatedly gave the dynamic effects duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal a taste of their own medicine to revive their team’s opportunities.
Andile Phehlukwayo solved the problem with a spectacular 23 from five balls.
January 27, 2019 against Pakistan: Pakistan won by 7 wickets
South Africa’s six-game winning sequence came to a resounding halt when a typically fickle combination from Pakistan flexed their collective muscle.
Amla and Du Plessis showed off their expertise compiling a third 101-race wicket, before the latter’s firing caused an embarrassing collapse in which the Proteas lost their last eight wickets for 45 races.
Usman Shinwari was the destroyer-in-chief with 4/35.
Imam-ul-Haq’s solid 71 meant that the persecution of the 165 Pakistanis was never in doubt.
February 9, 2020 against England – England won by 2 wickets
In all honesty, the final victory margin was only superficially narrow.
Placed at bat by the new world champions, the Proteas achieved a total of 256/7 together, with only David Miller’s 69 undefeated capitalizing on a good platform established at the top by De Kock, who also made 69.
An inexperienced attack had a difficult time controlling the race pace of the eternally aggressive Englishmen, exemplified by Jonny Bairstow’s 43 of 23 balls at the top of the order.
The only way South Africa could win was by eliminating England.
Ironically, they came much closer than they should have, as the visitors nearly imploded with the finish line in sight.
