The competition between the West Indies cricket team and the South African cricket team began on March 5, 1992, when the two teams faced each other in Christchurch in an ODI match, marking their first head-to-head encounter. The West Indies Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team timeline has been characterized by dominant spells, phenomenal comebacks, and defining moments.
The South African Test and One-Day teams lead the way, while the West Indians lead the way in T20 International cricket. Legends of West Indian cricket Sir Garfield Sobers, Brian Lara, and Malcolm Marshall have stood along South African greats Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, and Graeme Smith to capture these wonderful moments. In the memorable series wins the South Africans crawled their way onto the list of world competitiveness, while the West Indies has begun to establish itself as a significant competitor in T20 Internationals.
In the chronological history of the rivalry between the West Indies Cricket Team and South Africa National Cricket Team, we have both teams matched up against one another on the field, trying both to solidify their imprint on the world stage.
Early Encounters: 1992-2005
- At the AMI Stadium in Christchurch, South Africa played their debut One Day International match against the West Indies. The West Indies defeated South Africa in all three of their matches in the 1991–1992 Benson & Hedges World Cup.
- West Indies hosted their first Test match against South Africa on 18th April, 1992 at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, which the West Indies won by 52 runs. Curtly Ambrose helped the West Indies to victory by taking six wickets in the second innings, earning him the Player of the Series title.
- The West Indies beat South Africa in the 1995-1996 Wills World Cup, 3rd Quarter Final by 19 runs. The West Indies beat South Africa, thanks to Brian Lara, who hit 111 off 94 balls, and Roger Harper, who took 4/47 with the ball.
- The 1998-1999 South Africa vs West Indies series was the first bilateral series following South Africa’s reinstatement into international cricket, and South Africa had won all five of the remaining games. South Africa defeated the West Indies by 351 runs in the last game of the series.
- In the tight encounter at the 2003 ICC World Cup, the West Indies chose to bat first, giving South Africa a 279-run target. Brian Lara led the innings with 116 runs off 134 balls. South Africa was bowled out for 275 runs in 49 overs.
- South Africa took part in a four-match Test Series against the West Indies in the 2004-2005 season. South Africa won the series 2-0 against the West Indies. Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith starred for South Africa throughout the series.
2005-2015: Tough Contests
- South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first in the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy, eventually posting 258/8 in their allotted 50 overs. West Indies’ opener, Chris Gayle, finished with an unbeaten 133 runs from 135 balls while chasing the target to take his team home in 44 overs with 6 wickets remaining.
- On September 11, 2007, the West Indies played against South Africa in the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. After winning the toss and batting first, the West Indies were off to a quickfire start with a century from Chris Gayle, but once again needed a rescue mission to finish with a total of 205/6. South Africa chased the target with ease in 17 overs, ultimately finishing with 8 wickets remaining.
- In the Test series of 2009-2010 West Indies v South Africa, South Africa won the first and third games of the series, whereas the second match ended in a draw. Johan Botha and Dale Steyn were responsible for the ball and did enough to contribute to yet another miserable Test series for the West Indies.
- South Africa and the West Indies were declared tied for the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. Due to rain, South Africa’s innings was cut short to 31 overs, while the West Indies had to aim for 191 runs from 26.1 overs. Colin Ingram won Player of the Match after scoring 73 runs off 63 balls.
2015 to Recent Encounters
- The Windies were in charge during the 2015-2016 Series by winning with a 2-1 scoreline. In the first match of the series, the South African team could not handle the bowling from Sunil Narine, as he captured 6 wickets while only conceding 27 runs. South Africa rallied to win the second game of the series by 139 runs. However, they fell to the West Indies by 100 runs in the third game.
- In another five matches of Twenty20 Internationals, South Africa and the West Indies battled in the 2020-2021 series. The Proteas capitalized on their strengths in the matches and showed superior performance as they had 2 players in their leading wicket-takers. George Linde and Tabraiz Shamsi were the two leading bowlers for South Africa. The Proteas went on to win the series by winning 3 out of 5 matches.
- The home-based 2022-2023 South Africa vs. West Indies series saw the home team take the series 2-0. Kagiso Rabada was the top wicket-taker in the first test, while Aiden Markram won Player of the Match for his 115 runs off 174 balls. As a result of the victories, South Africa took the series with relative ease.
- The 2022/23 series involving South Africa and West Indies ended 1-1 with a stirring 1st match victory for the West Indies, in which Shai Hope was undefeated, resulting in a win by 48 runs. In the second match of the series, Heinrich Klaasen smashed a century to help lead the Proteas to a 4-wicket victory.
- The 2024-2025 West Indies v South Africa series saw the West Indies sweep South Africa 3-0. Nicholas Pooran was the series top scorer for the Windies, and with Romario Shepherd’s bowling, the Windies made a strong claim to secure the series victory against South Africa.
The West Indies Cricket Team vs South Africa National Cricket Team timeline will also see exciting matches in the future, as well as one now for the ages. It is exhilarating whenever two great nations of cricket face off against one another. South Africa has as proud a reputation as any country that plays cricket today, and the West Indies have had some great teams, as well as it could be said they are the most flamboyant and unpredictable. Future battles will no doubt provide much more gripping and high-octane clashes and big moments. This rivalry is nowhere near being done, in fact, it may just be starting, or the best has not even occurred.
