The South African cricket team, nicknamed Proteas, is unarguably one of the top teams in test cricket. The South African team has always produced great batters like Graeme Smith, Jacque Kallis & AB de Villiers, while the Sri Lankan team was once known for making great test bowlers like Muralitharan. So, in this article, we will discuss 'Best knocks by South African batters against Sri Lanka in Test matches.'
1. Jacques Kallis
Jacques Kallis was unarguably one of the best allrounder players from South Africa, with more than handy medium-pace bowling. In a game against Sri Lanka in the 2012 test series, batting in 1st innings, South Africa piled up 580 runs on a road of a pitch with Jacques Kallis smacking a double century. Batting first, with the score reading 56-2, Kallis stitched together a 205-run stand with Alviro Petersen. In his 325-ball knock, where he spent nearly 7 hours, he smashed 31 boundaries and a gigantic six, scoring 224 runs.
2. Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis was unarguably one of the best players from South Africa, with more than handy batting in the middle order. In a game against Sri Lanka in the 2020 test series, batting in 2nd innings, South Africa piled up 621 runs on a road of a pitch with Faf du Plessis smacking a century. Batting in 2nd innings, with the score reading 220-4, Plessis stitched together a 179-run stand with Temba Bavuma. In his 276-ball knock, where he spent nearly 7 hours, he smashed 24 boundaries, scoring 199 runs, missing his double ton by just one run.
3. Gary Kirsten
Garry Kirsten was one of the best players from South Africa, with more than handy batting at the top of the order. In a game against Sri Lanka in the 2000 test series, batting in 1st innings, South Africa piled up 420 runs on a road of a pitch with Garry Kirsten smacking a century. Batting first, with the score reading 86-2, Kirsten stitched together a 108-run stand with Daryll Cullinan. In his 461-ball knock, where he spent nearly 9 hours, he smashed 20 boundaries, scoring 180 runs.
4. AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers was one of the best players from South Africa, with more than handy batting at the top of the order. In a game against Sri Lanka in the 2012 test series, batting in 1st innings, South Africa piled up 580 runs on a road of a pitch with AB de Villiers smacking a century. Batting first, with the score reading 261-3, AB de Villiers stitched together a 192-run stand with Jacques Kallis. In his 205-ball knock, where he spent nearly 5 hours, he smashed 19 boundaries and two gigantic sixes, scoring 160 runs.
5. JP Duminy
JP Duminy was one of the best players from South Africa, with more than handy off-spin bowling. In a game against Sri Lanka in the 2017 test series, batting in 1st innings, South Africa piled up 426 runs on a road of a pitch with JP Duminy smacking a century. Batting first, with the score reading 45-2, Duminy stitched together a 292-run stand with Hashim Amla. In his 221-ball knock, where he spent nearly 5 hours, he smashed 19 boundaries, scoring 155 runs.
6. Hashim Amla
Hashim Amla was unarguably one of the best players from South Africa, with more than handy batting at the top of the order. In a game against Sri Lanka in the 2014 test series, batting in 2nd innings, South Africa piled up 282 runs on a tricky pitch with Hashim Amla smacking a century. Batting in 2nd innings, with the score reading 71-3, Amla stitched together a 79-run stand with AB de Villiers. In his 382-ball knock, where he spent nearly 8 hours, he smashed 12 boundaries, scoring 139 runs. His knock helped South Africa to draw the game.
7. Dean Elgar
Dean Elgar was one of the best players from South Africa, with more than handy batting at the top of the order. In a game against Sri Lanka in the 2017 test series, batting in 1st innings, South Africa piled up 392 runs on a tricky pitch with Dean Elgar smacking a century. Batting first, with the score reading 169-5, Elgar stitched together a 103-run stand with Quinton de Kock. In his 230-ball knock, where he spent nearly 6 hours, he smashed 15 boundaries, scoring 129 runs.
8. Hansie Cronje
Hansie Cronje was unarguably one of the best players from South Africa, with more than handy batting at the top of the order. In a game against Sri Lanka in the 1993 test series, batting in 2nd innings, South Africa piled up 495 runs on a road of a pitch with Hansie Cronje smacking a century. Batting in first innings, Cronje stitched together a 137-run stand with Andrew Hudson. In his 295-ball knock, where he spent nearly 7 hours, he smashed 11 boundaries, scoring 122 runs.
9. Daryll Cullinan
Daryll Cullinan was one of the best players from South Africa, with more than handy batting at the top of the order. In a game against Sri Lanka in the 2000 test series, batting in 2nd innings, South Africa piled up 238 runs on a tricky pitch with Daryll Cullinan smacking a century. Batting in 2nd innings, with the score reading 30-2, Cullinan stitched together a 56-run stand with Jacques Kallis. In his 231-ball knock, where he spent nearly 4 hours, he smashed 12 boundaries and a gigantic six, scoring 114 runs.
10. Jacques Rudolph
Jacques Rudolph was one of the best players from South Africa, with more than handy batting at the top of the order. In a game against Sri Lanka in the 2004 test series, batting in 2nd innings, South Africa piled up 376 runs on a road of a pitch with Jacques Rudolph smacking a century. Batting in 2nd innings, with the score reading 96-2, Rudolph stitched together a 72-run stand with Jacques Kallis. In his 297-ball knock, where he spent nearly 7 hours, he smashed 12 boundaries, scoring 102 runs. His knock helped South Africa to draw the game.