333 runs without a six, a rare feat achieved by the South African batters

The South African team is on a tour to England. The two teams are facing off in the first ODI of the series at Chester-le-Street. 

The visitors won the toss and decided to bat first in the match. On the back of a crafty knock by Rassie van der Dussen, the Proteas have put up a total of 333 runs in their 50 overs. van der Dussen was ably supported by Janneman Malan (57 off 77) and Aiden Markram (77 off 61) during the innings.

In the age of cricket, where T20 cricket has revolutionized the way the game is played South Africa did achieve a rare feat in this innings. They posted a 300-plus total without hitting a single six during the entire innings.

It appears unbelievable given the batters nowadays hit sixes at their will. But a 300-plus total with a low number of sixes is not a first-timer for the Men in Green. In fact, this is the second time South Africans have achieved the feat in the history of the game. 

Previous instance of South Africa scoring 300 plus runs without hitting a six

• Versus Pakistan, 1996, Nairobi: In a match against Pakistan in 1996 at Nairobi, South Africa achieved this rare feat for the first time. South Africa posted a total of 321 runs in the match without hitting a single six. 
  
  The legendary fielder Jonty Rhodes (121 off 114)  and Dary Cullinan (124 off 117) were the prime architects for the team in that match. South Africa won the match by 62 runs.
  
  Besides this, there are three other instances where South Africa crossed the 300 runs mark in an ODI inning hitting only one-six.

300-plus score with only one six

• Versus England, 2009, Cape Town: In a match against England in 2009 at Cape Town, South Africa posted a mammoth total of 354 runs on the board. But only came of Mark Boucher’s bat in the innings.
  
  The highest scorer for South Africa in the match was AB de Villiers with 121 off just 85 balls. ABD managed to maintain a strike rate of 142.35 during the knock without hitting a single six.
  
  South Africa emerged the winners in the match by 112 runs.
  
  
• Versus Pakistan, 2010, Dubai: In 2010 against Pakistan in Dubai, the Proteas scored 317 runs in their 50 overs, hitting only one-six. The six came off the bat of their veteran batter Hashim Amla. 
  
  Jacques Kallis was the prime architect of the innings as South Africa won the match by 57 runs. 
  
  
• Versus India, 2013, Cardiff: In their opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2013, South Africa were tasked to chase down 332 runs by India. 
  
  Riding on the back of half-centuries by Robin Peterson (68 off 72) and AB de Villiers (70 off 71), they went quite close to the total. But in the end, they managed to score 305 runs in their 50 overs and fell short of the target by 27 runs.
  
  The only six in this innings came from the bat of the bowling all-rounder Ryan McLaren.

At the time of writing, England are stationed at 112 with the loss of Jason Roy's wicket in 22 overs. Time will answer whether the lack of a six in their innings was a representation of lack of intent or was it clever batting by the Proteas’ batters.