Highest Individual Scores In A Test Innings In South Africa

Ryan Rickelton scored a terrific double hundred in SA vs PAK 2nd Test [Source: @robertmarawa/x.com]

South Africa has been a place for several unforgettable batting masterclasses in Test cricket. On surfaces that are more like minefields with their blistering pace and sharp bounce, only the bold dare to stand tall.

However, from time to time, a batter steps up, takes on the challenge head-on. They dig in, face the music, and play marathon knocks that leave everyone absolutely gobsmacked. From turning games around to piling on the misery for bowlers, these knocks had it all.

Let’s take a look at the top five highest individual scores in a Test innings in South Africa.

5. Ben Stokes – 258

Ben Stokes [Source: @bbctms/x.com]

Ben Stokes doesn’t just play cricket, he puts on a show. In 2016, during the Cape Town Test against South Africa, Stokes walked in with England wobbling at 167/4. What followed was absolute carnage. Stokes batted like he was in a T20, smashing 30 fours and 11 sixes in a blistering knock that lasted only 198 balls.

It wasn’t just the runs but the way he scored them that broke South Africa’s spirit. Stokes’ 258 took England to a mammoth 629/6 declared. The Proteas fought back with 627/7, and the match ended in a draw, but Stokes was the talk of the town as he bulldozed the opposition with his fearless hitting.

4. Ryan Rickelton – 259

Ryan Rickelton [Source: @Werries_/x.com]

Ryan Rickelton’s 259 against Pakistan is the freshest entry on this list, and what a knock it was. Opening the batting in Cape Town, Rickelton played calmly first and then went on the attack, hammering 29 fours and three sixes in his 343-ball marathon.

Rickelton’s knock was the backbone of South Africa’s massive 615, and it left Pakistan’s bowlers with no answers. His innings not only put South Africa in control but also gave them a great chance to dominate the match. It’s not every day you see such a combination of patience and aggression in a Test knock.

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3. Stephen Fleming – 262

Stephen Fleming [Source: @outof22yards/x.com]

Stephen Fleming’s 262 against South Africa in 2006 was absolute class. The New Zealand skipper played a captain’s knock, anchoring the innings beautifully in Cape Town. He batted for 576 minutes, smashing 31 fours and two sixes, guiding his team to a massive 593/8 declared.

Fleming’s knock wasn’t flashy, but it was solid and effective. South Africa replied with 512, and the match ended in a draw, but Fleming’s innings left a massive mark. It was the kind of innings that shows why he was such a highly rated batter who was always in control.

2. Graeme Pollock – 274

Graeme Pollock [Source: @fredfertang/x.com]

Graeme Pollock’s 274 against Australia in 1970 was nothing short of sensational. Playing in Durban, Pollock walked in at 126/2 and took the Australian bowlers to the cleaners. He smashed 43 fours in a knock for the ages.

Pollock’s innings powered South Africa to 622/9 declared, and Australia had no answers. The visitors followed on and couldn’t recover, losing by an innings and 129 runs. Pollock’s knock wasn’t just about the runs, it was about sending a message. It showed why he’s considered one of the greatest batters of all time in his short career.

1. Gary Kirsten – 275

Gary Kirsten [Source: @TrollRajniHater/x.com]

At the top is Gary Kirsten’s epic 275 against England in 1999 in Durban. South Africa was in deep trouble after being forced to follow on, but Kirsten decided he wasn’t going down without a fight.

Facing an incredible 642 balls and spending an unbelievable 878 minutes at the crease, Kirsten smashed 26 fours in an innings that single-handedly saved South Africa from a humiliating defeat. With the team finishing at 572/7 in their second innings, Kirsten’s Herculean effort turned a likely loss into a hard-earned draw.

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