The Proteas made a big statement when they came from a 2-0 deficit to win the Momentum One Day International series against England.
The Proteas made their first step towards recovery at SuperSport Park when they beat England on Tuesday, February 9.
Chris Morris played the innings of his life to earn the Castle Lager Proteas a one-wicket victory over England to level the Momentum One-Day Series at 2-2 in the Pink Drive ODI at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Friday, February 12.
The two teams went into the decider at PPC Newlands on Sunday to beat England and thus emulated the performance of their predecessors of 2003, who beat Pakistan 3-2 after being 2-0 down after two matches. This is only the fourth time this has happened in the history of ODI cricket, although in one case, between Pakistan and India, it was a six-match series which Pakistan won 4-2 after being 2-0 down.
AB de Villiers, who led from the front, celebrated his 200th ODI appearance – although only his 195th for the Castle Lager Proteas – with an unbeaten 24th career century and, more importantly, a match and series triumph against England in the final match of the Momentum ODI Series at PPC Newlands on Sunday.
“Congratulations to captain AB de Villiers, coach Russell Domingo, the players and the team management,” said CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat, “To have won three games in a row to clinch the series 3-2 will do this squad of players a world of good. They have now scored back-to-back series victories against two of the most powerful nations in world cricket in India and England.”
“The impressive growth and telling performances of some newer players is very satisfying for us and indeed very promising for the future.”
The side now looks forwards to the KFC T20 series matches against England (two) and Australia (three) at home before departing for the ICC World Twenty20 in India in March.
The first KFC T20 match will be played at PPC Newlands on Friday, February 19 and the second at Bidvest Wanderers on Sunday, February 21.