• Home
  • Top Most
  • Biggest Test Wins By South Africa By Innings Margin

Biggest Test Wins By South Africa (By Innings Margin)

Jatin

South Africa beat Zimbabwe [Source: @Sporcaster/x.com]South Africa beat Zimbabwe [Source: @Sporcaster/x.com]

South Africa have never been the types to win quietly. When they win, they bulldoze the opposition and in Test cricket, they have handed out some of the most brutal thrashings the game has seen.

Just ask Zimbabwe, who have been on the receiving end of a demolition job in Bulawayo. South Africa beat them by an innings and 236 runs which made it one of their biggest Test wins ever.

Here’s a look at South Africa’s top 5 biggest Test wins by innings margin.

5. Against West Indies By An Innings And 220 Runs (2014)

This one had everything: Hashim Amla’s class, AB de Villiers’ flamboyance and Dale Steyn’s chaos. After being reduced to 57/3 early on, South Africa unleashed the beast. Amla (208) and de Villiers (152) stitched a monstrous partnership before Stiaan van Zyl struck a ton of his own. They declared at a jaw-dropping 552/5.

West Indies never looked in the game. Vernon Philander got four, Morne Morkel three and the visitors folded for 201. Forced to follow on, the Windies fared no better as Steyn turned into a wrecking ball, grabbing 6/34 to knock them over for just 131 as the Proteas wrapped it up by an innings and 220 runs. Ruthless stuff.

4. Against Sri Lanka By An Innings And 229 Runs (2001)

Cape Town witnessed a one-sided beatdown in 2001 when Shaun Pollock’s men steamrolled Sri Lanka. The visitors were shot out for just 95 in the first innings with Pollock himself rattling through the top and middle order to finish with 6/30. In reply, South Africa batted brilliantly as Daryll Cullinan smoked 112, Mark Boucher made 92 and Lance Klusener missed his ton by just 3 runs. They posted a mammoth 504/7 before declaring.

Sri Lanka showed a little more spine in the second dig, thanks to Mahela Jayawardene’s 45 and Chaminda Vaas’ 38, but Nicky Boje spun a web and took four wickets to wrap them up for 180. Sri Lanka were outplayed in every department and South Africa romped home with a win by an innings and 229 runs.

3. Against Zimbabwe By An Innings And 236 Runs (2025)

Stand-in captain, Wiaan Mulder put on a one-man show in Bulawayo that fans won’t forget anytime soon. With captaincy duties on his shoulders, he rose to the occasion with a mind-boggling 367*, just 33 runs short of Brian Lara’s all-time record. South Africa declared at a colossal 626/5 and Zimbabwe were never in the contest.

The hosts were skittled out for 170 in the first innings, where Sean Williams’ 83 was the lone bright spot. Forced to follow on, Zimbabwe fared slightly better but still folded for 220. Mulder wasn’t done as he picked up three wickets across both innings, capping off a Player of The Series performance. South Africa sealed an innings and 236-run win to whitewash the series 2-0 in brutal fashion.

2. Against Bangladesh By An Innings And 254 Runs (2001)

Back in Bloemfontein in October 2017, South Africa were ruthless. They piled up 573/4 declared, thanks to centuries from Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Amla, and Faf du Plessis. The Bangla bowlers were left gasping for air as the boundaries flowed non-stop.

What followed was carnage. Rabada went full beast mode as he bagged 5-fers in both innings. Bangladesh were bundled out for 147 in the first dig and 172 in the second. Only Litton Das and Mahmudullah put up any resistance. It was a Test match that looked more like a warm-up game as South Africa clinched the win by an innings and 254 runs.

1. Against Bangladesh By An Innings and 273 runs (2024)

The second Test in Chattogram turned out to be a nightmare for Bangladesh. South Africa batted first and put up a massive 575/6 declared with Tony de Zorzi leading the charge with 177. Tristan Stubbs and Mulder chipped in with tons, turning the heat up right from Day 1.

Bangladesh had no answers. Kagiso Rabada picked up a five-for in the first innings and Maharaj cleaned up the second. Mominul Haque tried to fight with an 82 in the first innings, and Hasan Mahmud hit a few in the second, but it was nowhere near enough. They were bowled out for 159 and 143, crashing to an innings and 273-run defeat, South Africa’s biggest win in Test history.