Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline

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The South African Cricket Team is the current World Test Champions; they have been working diligently for their advancements in the game. Whereas the Sri Lanka Cricket Team is currently not in their best form and is not consistent with positive outcomes in their recent matches and ICC Tournaments. The clash between Sri Lanka and South Africa is an interesting one, as both teams play with the spirit of sportsmanship, courage, determination, and passion. Both teams have a rich history of competition between them across the formats. Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline sheds light on the encounters between the teams across the three formats – Test matches, ODIs, and T20Is.

Sri Lanka vs South Africa 1991 to 2000: The Early Encounters

The Sri Lanka and South Africa teams have faced each other from 1991-2000, a total of 30 times. Out of which, the Sri Lankan team only managed to win 10 matches, whereas the South African team clinched 15 wins to their names, 1 match ended up in a no result, and 4 matches ended up in a draw. Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline provides a detailed analysis of the teams across the two formats – Test matches and ODIs.

  • 1991-1992 Benson & Hedges World Cup (ODI): The 14th match of the cup was played at Basin Reserve, Wellington, on 2nd March 1992 between the Sri Lanka and South Africa teams. Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bowl first, constraining the Proteas to a total of 195 runs. In the run chase, major contributions from Roshan Mahanama(68 runs) and Arjuna Ranatunga(64 runs*) guided the Sri Lankan team towards victory.
  • 1993-1994 Sri Lanka vs South Africa (2nd Test): In the match played at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo, batting first Lankan Lions made a total of 168 & 119 runs in the first and the second innings, respectively. But the South African team scored a total of 495 runs, with major contributions from Kepler Wessels(92 runs) and Hansie Cronje (122 runs), winning the match by an innings and 208 runs.
  • 1996-1997 KCA Centenary Tournament (ODI): Sri Lanka won the 3rd match by 2 wickets, played at Nairobi Club Ground, Nairobi on 1st October 1996. Sanath Jaisuriya was named Player of the Match for his incredible performance of 45 runs and 1 wicket. 
  • 1997-1998 Wills Quadrangular Tournament (Final, ODI): The final match of the tournament was played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on 8th November 1997. Sri Lanka set a target of 209 runs with the loss of 7 wickets. In reply, with the help of Lance Klusener’s crucial knock of 99 runs, the Proteas became the champions of the 1997-1998 Wills Quadrangular Tournament.  
  • 1998-1999 Wills International Cup (1st Semi-final, ODI): Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first in the match played at Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka (Dacca) on 30th October 1998. Batting first, the Proteas set a total of 240 runs with contributions from Jacques Kalis(113 runs*). The wickets of Steven Elworthy(3 wickets), Pat Symcox(3 wickets), and Hansie Cronje(2 wickets) constricted the Sri Lankan team to a mere total of 132 runs.
  • 1999 ICC World Cup (ODI): The 9th league match of the cup was played at County Ground, Northampton between the Lankan Lions and the Proteas. The Proteas won the match with a margin of 89 runs. Lance Klusener was named Player of the Match due to his crucial contribution of 52 runs* and 3 wickets.
  • 2000-2001 Singer Triangular Series (Final, ODI): The final of the Triangular Series was played between the teams of Sri Lanka and South Africa, hosted at R Premdasa Stadium, Colombo on 14th July 2000. With Sanath Jayasuriya’s contribution of 68 runs, Avishka Gunawardene(49 runs), Kumar Sangakkara(43 runs), and Russel Arnold(51 runs), the total score of the Sri Lankan team added to 294 runs. In reply, the Proteas were constricted to 264 runs due to the brilliant bowling spell of Muttiah Muralitharan(10 overs, 44 runs, and 5 wickets).
  • 2000-2001 Sri Lanka vs South Africa (2nd Test): The 2nd test of the two-match series was played at Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy on 30th July 2000. Batting first, the Proteas scored 253 & 231 in the first and the second innings, respectively. The Lankan Lions were restricted to a total of 308 & 169 in the first and second innings, respectively, leading to the victory of the Proteas by 7 runs.

Read Also: South Africa National Cricket Team vs New Zealand National Cricket Team Timeline

Sri Lanka vs South Africa 2001 to 2011: The Middle Encounters

Between the time period of 2001-2011, the Sri Lanka team and the South Africa team faced each other 35 times. The Proteas have won 16 matches, the Lankan Lions have won 17 matches, 1 match ended in a tie, and 1 match ended up being drawn. The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline highlights the thrilling encounters between the teams, as the winning percentage during this period is almost neck to neck. 

  • 2002-2003 Morocco Cup (Final, ODI): The final of the Morocco Cup was hosted by the National Cricket Stadium on 21st August 2002, played between the Proteas and the Lankan Lions. Sri Lanka became the champion by winning by 27 runs. Sanath Jayasuriya was named the Player of the Match for his brilliant knock of 71 runs.
  • 2002-2003 ICC World Cup (ODI): The 39th league match of the ICC World Cup was played on 3rd March 2003 at Kingsmead, Durban. The result of the match ended in a tie despite of brilliant knock from Marvan Attapattu(124 runs).
  • 2006-2007 Sri Lanka vs South Africa (1st Test): The 1st test was hosted by the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo, on 27th July 2006. The South African team scored 169 & 434 runs in the first innings and second innings, respectively. The Sri Lankans set up a humongous target of 756 runs with key contributions from Kumar Sangakara(287 runs) and Mahela Jayawardene (374 runs), resulting in Sri Lanka winning by an innings and 153 runs.
  • 2006-2007 ICC Champions Trophy (ODI): The match between Sri Lanka and South Africa was hosted at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on 24th October 2006. Batting first, the Proteas set a total of 219 runs with major contributions from Jacques Kallis(43 runs) and AB de Villiers(54 runs). The Sri Lankan team was constricted to a score of 141 runs by the Proteas bowling lineup, with major wickets from Andre Nel(3 wickets).
  • 2006-2007 ICC World Cup (ODI): The 26th league match was played at Providence Stadium, Providence, Guyana on 28th March 2007. South Africa won the match by 1 wicket, despite the brilliant performances of Tillakaratne Dilshan(58 runs), Russel Arnold(50 runs), Lasith Malinga(4 wickets), and Muttiah Muralitharan(3 wickets), the Sri Lankan team had to face defeat.
  • 2009-2010 ICC Champions Trophy (ODI): The opening match of the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy was played between Sri Lanka and South Africa at SuperSport Park, Centurion on 22nd September 2009. Sri Lanka, batting first, set up a total of 319 runs with contributions from Tillakaratne Dilshan(106 runs) and Mahela Jayawardene (77 runs), and the Sri Lankan bowlers constricted the Proteas to 206 runs.

Sri Lanka vs South Africa 2012 to 2024: Recent Encounters

The South Africa and Sri Lanka teams have played each other 67 times. Out of which, the Sri Lankan team has bagged 20 victories to its name, the South African team has clinched 46 wins to its name, meanwhile 1 match ended up being drawn. The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team Timeline provides a detailed analysis of the significant matches both teams have played against each other.

  • 2012-2013 ICC World Twenty20: The 7th match of the cup, hosted by the Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota, was won by the South African team by a margin of 32 runs. The match was reduced to 7 overs due to the onset of rain. AB de Villiers was named Player of the Match for his knock of 30 runs. 
  • 2013-2014 ICC World Twenty20: The Lankan Lions won the toss and elected to bat first, and set a target of 165 runs with major contributions from Kusal Perera(61 runs) and Angelo Matthews(43 runs). The Proteas were constricted to a total of 160 runs, falling short of 5 runs towards the victory.
  • 2014-2015 ICC World Cup (1st Quarter-final, ODI): The 1st quarter-final of the match was played at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, on 18th March 2015. Batting first, the Lankan Lions were restricted to a mere total of 133 runs, with major wicket-taker Imran Tahir(4 wickets). The Proteas chased down the target smoothly in 18 overs with the loss of only one wicket and a major run contribution from Quinton de Kock(78 runs*).
  • 2015-2016 ICC World Twenty20: The 32nd match of the cup was played on 28th March 2016, hosted by the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. The Proteas claimed yet another victory over the Lankan Lions in the ICC tournaments by claiming the victory by 8 wickets. Aaron Phangiso was awarded the Player of the Match award for his spell of 4 overs, 26 runs, and 2 wickets.
  • 2016-2017 South Africa vs Sri Lanka (Test): The 3-match series was hosted by  South Africa, being the home team, the Proteas whitewashed the series by 3-0. Major performers for the Proteas were Stephan Cook, Jean-Paul Duminy, Vernon Philander, Kyle Abbott, Stephan Cook, Kagiso Rabada, Dean Elgar, Quinton de Cock, Hasim Amla, and Wayne Parnell.
  • 2017 ICC Champions Trophy (ODI): Batting first, the Proteas set a total of 299 runs in 50 overs, with major contributions from Hasim Amla(103 runs) and Faf du Plessis(75 runs). Despite the efforts from the Lankan Lions, the batting lineup succumbed to the brilliant bowling spell of 8.3 overs, 27 runs, and 4 wickets.
  • 2019 ICC World Cup (ODI): The 35th match of the 2019 ICC World Cup was played at Riverside Ground, Chester-Le-Street, on 28th June 2019. Bowling first, the Proteas’ bowling lineup constricted the Sri Lankan team to a total of 203 runs. In reply, the South African team chased the target in 37.2 overs with major contributions from Hasim Amla(80 runs) and Faf du Plessis(96 runs).
  • 2021 ICC T20 World Cup: The South African team won the 25th match of the cup hosted by Sharjah Cricket Stadium by 4 wickets with 1 ball remaining. In the nail-biting match, the final winning knock came from the bat of Kagiso Rabada with his brief yet crucial knock of 13 runs* in 7 balls in partnership with David Miller(23 runs* of 13 runs). 
  • 2023 ICC World Cup (ODI): The 4th match was played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. Batting first, the Proteas set the humongous target of 428 runs. The crowd present on that day witnessed 3 centuries from the South African Team – Quinton de Kock(100 runs), Rassie van der Dussen(108 runs), and Aiden Markram(106 runs). The Lankan Lions were constrained to 326 runs, falling 102 runs shy from the target. 
  • 2024 ICC T20 World Cup: Batting first, the Lankan team was constricted to a low-scoring target of 77 runs, with the major wicket-taker being Anrich Nortje’s bowling spell of 4 overs, 7 runs, and 4 wickets. The Proteas chased the target in 16.2 overs without facing resistance from the Sri Lankan bowlers.
  • 2024-2025 South Africa vs Sri Lanka (Test): South Africa hosted the two-match test series. The Proteas took a 2-0 series lead after winning both games. Key performers for the South African team were Temba Bavuma, Marco Jenson, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne, Dane Paterson, and Keshav Maharaj.  

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