Big knocks are always appreciated. However, in T20I cricket, these knocks should also be quick. It is challenge to stay long on the crease as the batters get a very little time to settle in. While chasing a big target, even this little time goes out of hands as the batter needs to start hitting the ball from the very beginning.
However, South Africa has provided some of the greatest batters to the world, who can carry out the task effectively. In this article, we will take a look at the highest individual scores by these batters in T20I cricket.
1. Faf du Plessis Vs. West Indies
We start off this list with Faf du Plessis who scored 119 runs from just 56 balls. During the West Indies tour of South Africa in 2015, Faf hit eleven fours and five sixes to guide his team to a total of 231 runs. However, this score was not enough as the Caribbean batters chased it down with four wickets to spare.
2. Richard Levi Vs. New Zealand
The second place on this list belongs to Richard Levi for his unbeaten knock of 117 runs from 51 balls. While playing against New Zealand in the bilateral series of 2012, Levi bagged five fours and thirteen sixes. Thanks to this inning, South Africa was able to chase down the opposition’s total of 173 runs in only 16 overs.
3. Morne Van Wyk Vs. West Indies
Standing on number three, we have Morne van Wyk, who accumulated 114 runs in 70 balls with the help of nine fours and seven sixes. He led South Africa to a total of 195 runs in the first inning. Following this, the Proteas bowlers bowled out the West Indies’ batters for only 126 runs.
4. Rilee Rossouw Vs. Bangladesh
Rilee Rossouw takes away the fourth spot on this list with his 109-run inning against Bangladesh in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup of 2022. Rossouw hit seven fours and eight sixes in his 56-ball inning to help South Africa reach 205 runs in the first inning. Later, a brilliant bowling performance bowled out Bangladesh for only 101 runs.
5. David Miller Vs. India
Moving ahead, we have David Miller, who played an unbeaten inning of 106 runs against India during the bilateral series between the two nations in 2022. While chasing a target of 237 runs, Miller hit eight fours and seven sixes in just 47 balls. However, this was not enough as they the Proteas were handed a 16-run defeat.
6. David Miller Vs. Bangladesh
The sixth place also belongs to David Miller for his 101-run inning during the Bangladesh tour of South Africa in 2017. His 36-ball quick-inning comprised seven fours and nine sixes. After putting up 224 runs on the board in the first inning, South Africa restricted Bangladesh to only 141 runs and won by 83 runs.
7. Rilee Rossouw Vs. India
Rilee Rossouw makes a comeback to the list with his unbeaten knock of 100 runs against India during the bilateral series of 2022. Studded with seven fours and eight sixes, this inning led South Africa to a total of 227 runs. In reply, India could score only 178 runs before getting all out in the 19th over.
8. Quinton de Kock Vs. West Indies
On number eight, we have Quinton de Kock’s knock of 100 runs from just 44 balls. This knock came against West Indies during the bilateral between the two nations in 2023. In the high scoring match, Quinton hit nine fours and eight sixes to successfully chase down the Caribbean total of 258 runs with seven balls remaining.
9. Hashim Amla Vs. Australia
Hashim Amla stands in the ninth position on this list for playing an unbeaten knock of 97 runs against Australia during the Australia tour of South Africa in 2016. This knock comprised eight fours and four sixes. South Africa put up 178 runs on the board in the first inning. However, this was not enough as Australia chased down the total with six wickets to spare.
10. Jp Duminy Vs. Zimbabwe
JP Duminy makes way to the ultimate spot on this list with his unbeaten knock of 96 runs against Zimbabwe in the bilateral series of 2010. With the help of Duminy’s ten fours and four sixes in 54 balls, South Africa reached a total of 194 runs in the first inning. Zimbabwe could make only 186 runs in their 20 overs and thus, lost the match by eight runs.
