West Indies vs South Africa Head To Head: The rivalry of the West Indies with South Africa has always presented something full of excitement in international cricket. Among some matches with great competitiveness in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, most probably one of the best-ever matches played was against South Africa. West Indies vs. South Africa Tests, ODIs, and T20Is: A general discussion will be made in the format of Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, which includes important statistics and some performances that define their rivalry.
West Indies vs South Africa Head to Head: Summary General
South Africa tends to dominate head-to-head matches in all formats against West Indies, especially recently. Generally, the edge that gives the Proteas an edge over the West Indies is sustained performance in an unchanged manner and adaptability in varied conditions.
West Indies vs South Africa Head to Head in Tests
Regarding Test cricket, West Indies vs South Africa has been a one-sided affair for the better part, whereas South Africa has come out on top in most encounters. Indeed, the Proteas’ pace battery often does more than match up to the West Indian batting lineup, especially on home soils. However, West Indies have a few memorable performances, particularly from the 1990s when their fast bowlers still used to be a force to reckon with.
- Matches Played: 30
- Won: South Africa: 20+
- West Indies score: less than 5
- Draws: 3-5
Important Test Matches
One of the most memorable Tests was in 1992 when South Africa played their first Test since their return to international cricket against West Indies. South Africa won that game and hence began the supremacy of this head-to-head. The pacers of South Africa, first with bowlers like Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald and later Dale Steyn, have often given the West Indies batters a tough time.
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Most Test Runs: West Indies vs South Africa
- South Africa’s highest total is 658/9, declared in a Test match in 2005.
- The highest score by West Indies was 747 in 2005; that was that rarity and dominance, yet the match ended as a draw.
Least Test Aggregates: West Indies vs South Africa-
- Lowest Total by South Africa: 84. Long back, in 1992, that fledgling West Indian bowling master class.
- Lowest Total-West Indies: 51, made in 1999 as South African pace attack ripped apart West Indian batting.
Highest Run-Scorers Test Matches (West Indies vs South Africa)
Most Runs:
- South Africa: Jacques Kallis, over 2,000 runs against the West Indies at over an average of 50.
- West Indies: Brian Lara – 1,500-plus runs, always getting those really big scores, like that tremendous double century.
Most wickets
- South Africa: West Indies batters have been tormented by Dale Steyn, who, with his pace and swing, has taken over 60 wickets against the Windies in South Africa.
- West Indies: Courtney Walsh remained the only West Indian bowling attack for many years, taking over 30 wickets against South Africa.
Highest Marks in Individual Tests
- South Africa: Jacques Kallis-201*, 2004, was a very important lesson in controlled aggression and patience.
- West Indies: Brian Lara’s 202 in 2005 proved that the man could indeed play with lavish style against any type of bowling.
West Indies vs South Africa ODI Head-to-Head Stats
The West Indies vs South Africa rivalry has been that sort of skirmish where, more often than not in ODIs, supremacy has lied with South Africa, with flashes shown by the West Indies. Consistency in batting and bowling has made them that tough proposition in this format, while the West Indies have been that unpredictable side under whose umbrella flair often works.
- Matches Played: 60+
- South Africa Wins: 40+
- West Indies: 15+ wins
Highest ODI Totals (West Indies vs. South Africa)
- Highest Total in South Africa: 439/2: The year was 2015 when AB de Villiers hit one of the quickest hundreds in ODI history.
- The highest total of West Indies: 362/5. While responding pragmatically to a series losing cause in the same series, they showed themselves capable of making big totals.
Lowest Ever ODI Totals West Indies v South Africa
- The lowest Total by South Africa was 69 in 1999 against the West Indies. Again, it was an upset defeat as bowlers from the Caribbean performed better than their counterparts.
- Lowest Total of West Indies: 54, bowled out cheaply in 2004 with South Africa’s fast bowlers in their groove.
Top Run-scorers in ODIs: West Indies versus South Africa
Most Runs:
- South Africa: AB de Villiers, having scored more than 1,500 runs against the West Indies, has been a vital influence on SA’s dominance. His explosive batting and ability to change the scoring rate will be used to put the West Indians on the back foot many a time.
- West Indies: Coming to the West Indies ODI batting lineup is Chris Gayle, with nearly 1,300 runs to his credit so far. An audacious hitter, he has played many memorable innings against South Africa for several centuries.
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Most Wickets:
- South Africa: Among the best cricketers, Shaun Pollock has more than 50 wickets against the West Indies. The line and length he maintains, sometimes with the help of seam movement, has made him a continuous antagonist to West Indian batters.
- West Indies: Jason Holder, the West Indies captain, has been an all-round performer in the ODI format. Holder has picked up over 30 wickets against South Africa and always leads from the front for his team through his regular bowling.
Highest Individual Scores in One-Day Internationals
- South Africa: The 149 off just 44 balls that AB de Villiers from South Africa scored in 2015 have remained one of the most iconic innings in the game of cricket. Making his century off just 31 balls is one of the fastest centuries in ODI history, least still candid.
- West Indies: Chris Gayle’s 215 in the 2015 World Cup against South Africa remains to this day one of the highest scores by a West Indian in ODI cricket. The brutal innings from Gayle were studded with 16 sixes that left the South African bowling attack rattled.
Most Strike Rates in an Innings (West Indies vs South Africa)
- South Africa: On the other hand, AB de Villiers has a better strike rate between the two and is going at over 300 with runs to his name on the board of 149.
- West Indies: The tall, muscular Andre Russell has perhaps been a much-feared customer in the death overs, more so in T20Is, but he has had his moments in ODI cricket too, where he’s struck over a rate of 200.
T20 International Head-to-Head West Indies vs South Africa
The T20 format is where the West Indies v South Africa rivalry has been more even, though. Both camps have their bunches of explosiveness that can change games in just a matter of overs. However, the West Indies are used to dominating in T20s, where there are loads of big-hitting all-rounders and specialist bowlers who are used to this shorter format.
- Matches played: 20+
- South Africa Victories: 10+
- West Indies Victories: 10+
Highest T20I Aggregates: West Indies against South Africa
- South Africa’s Highest Total, 241/6, showcases the batting strength of the South Africans with major support from Quinton de Kock and David Miller.
- The highest total by West Indies was 236/6, with utterances of people like Chris Gayle and Andre Russell putting South Africans through them.
Lowest T20I scores (West Indies vs South Africa)
- Lowest Total by South Africa: 84; one of the rare instances when West Indian bowlers rule a T20 game.
- Lowest Total by West Indies: 87 once the South African spinners ran through the Windies’ batting instantly.
Top Scorer in T20I: West Indies vs South Africa
Most Runs:
- South Africa: Quinton de Kock has been the pivot of the scheme, having done more than 400 runs in T20 cricket for RSA. His penchant to give quick starts up the order often sets the platform for big tons to be compiled.
- West Indies: The face of West Indies in T20Is: Chris Gayle. He is the performer whose star has outshined in this format, scoring 500-plus runs with his brute batting abilities and hitting massive sixes.
Most Wickets:
- South Africa: Kagiso Rabada has been the mainstay amongst South Africa bowlers in T20Is against the West Indies with over 20 wickets. His ability to bowl quickly and at death means he has somehow become integral to T20 encounters.
- West Indies: The dynamic and artful giant of the format, with over 20 scalps against South Africa in T20Is, while being trusted with death over bowling.
Highest innings strike rates in T20 internationals
- South Africa: David Miller has been used mainly as a finisher. He has a fantastic strike rate of over 200 in loads of innings for the Proteas.
- West Indies: Andre Russell, Among the most explosive hitters in world cricket, has a T20I strike rate well above 200, clearing boundaries with so much ease.
Highest Averages
Jacques Kallis was one of the largest run-scorers in Tests between West Indies and South Africa, doing it at an average of over 70. At the same time, Chris Gayle leads the T20I averages list.
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Most Hundreds
Test cricket between West Indies and South Africa has thrown up a fair number of hundreds. Of these, the one who scored the highest was Jacques Kallis, who scored seven test hundreds. AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla have hit many centuries each against West Indies in ODIs.
Most Sixes in West Indies vs South Africa Matches
Chris Gayle predictably heads the listings from West Indies, particularly in ODIs and T20Is, when his brilliant belligerence saw off more than one South African bowling attack.
- South Africa: AB de Villiers and David Miller are the maximum six-hitters in any match between the West Indies and South Africa, and both of them ever appear capable of going over it anytime.
- West Indies: Chris Gayle is the Universe Boss and the record holder for most sixes in India vs West Indies matches. He has over 100 hits cricket shots outside the park and justifies his nickname to the fullest.
Most Strike Rates in an Innings: West Indies vs South Africa
Andrew Russell, with that being one of the higher strike rates in T20I cricket between West Indies and South Africa, showcases how he can finish games.
- South Africa: AB de Villiers is deja vu, courtesy of his astonishing strike rate of over 300 in ODIs—the highest from a player in an individual inning in this rivalry.
- West Indies: One of the biggest names, Andre Russel, owns one of the highest strike rates for any West Indian in the T20 format because of his ballistic batting, crossing 200.
Maximum Wickets in West Indies vs South Africa Matches
In encounters between the West Indies and South Africa, South African bowlers have often held a slight edge. In Test cricket, Shaun Pollock and Dale Steyn lead the charts, while Imran Tahir leads their ODI attack with his leg spin.
- Dale Steyn – South Africa: The overworked fast bowler with over 100 wickets across all formats against West India has indeed been. Like most naturally quick bowlers, he also can produce raw pace and swing it, making Steyn a dominant figure.
- West Indies: Jason Holder, with his steady medium pace and the ability to get some bounce from anywhere, has picked over 50 wickets in all formats against South Africa, making him one of the most reliable bowlers Windies have on these tracks.
Most Economical Bowlers (West Indies vs South Africa)
Both Makhaya Ntini and Kagiso Rabada preferred the wicket economy rate while bowling in Tests and ODIs against the Windies throughout their careers, more or less, to restrain opposition runs.
- South Africa: Shaun Pollock is amongst the finest all-rounders to emerge out of South Africa, he has managed to rein in the West Indies with less than 4 runs per over in ODIs.
- West Indies: Sunil Narine, a mystery offspinner with the knack of keeping his economy rate in T20Is under 6 runs per over, always plays a big part against South Africa.
Captains List (West Indies v South Africa)
Over the years, several giants have led their teams in their West Indies vs South Africa duels:
- South Africa Captains: Graeme Smith, Faf du Plessis, and Temba Bavuma have been the various captains of South Africa in this rivalry. The leadership of Smith in Tests and du Plessis in limited-overs cricket has been quite instrumental in South Africa’s dominance.
- West Indies Captains Brian Lara, Jason Holder, and Keiron Pollard captained the West Indies. Among these three, only two-star captains, namely Lara and Holder, were on their side.
Most Matches Played Player for West Indies against South Africa
Most West Indies vs South Africa Matches: Jacques Kallis played 30 Tests and many ODIs for South Africa.
- South Africa: Jacques Kallis has played the most international games for South Africa against the West Indies, having made runs, taken wickets, and catches galore.
- West Indies: Chris Gayle has been permanent when the West Indies take on South Africa, over 40 matches for them, and almost always firing with the bat.
West Indies vs South Africa Last 5 Matches Score Card
In all formats, the last five head-to-head encounters between West Indies and South Africa have been pretty competitive, with most of them being led by the latter. With all its oscillations, however, West Indies did manage to score a few victories, particularly in the T20 format, where their aggressive style often gains dividends.
- Test Match: Dominant South Africa won by an innings; their pace attack overwhelmed the West Indies in 2021.
- ODI (2021): West Indies won by a slender margin, with the man of the match being Nicholas Pooran.
- T20I: 2021, South Africa won a nail-biting T20 while chasing a big total due to helpful contributions by form players Quinton de Kock and David Miller.
- ODI, 2021: South Africa won comfortably because they held the Windies to an unimpressive total and then easily chased it down.
- T20I, 2021: Kieron Pollard used his power-hitting to spur the Caribbean toward a pulsating win with a high scorer.
Conclusion
The contest between the West Indies and South Africa has been an action-packed rivalry for the cricketing fraternity in all game formats. In most instances, especially concerning Tests and ODIs, the score sheet defaults seconds on top, while the West Indies have pulled up their socks in the T20 format. With explosive batting, consistent bowling, and memorable performances from players on both sides, this head-to-head remains one of the most entertaining rivalries in cricket.
The teams will go through evolution, but the future contests can only be as exciting as those that have happened in the past.
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Faqs About West Indies vs South Africa Head To Head
1. What is the record between West Indies vs South Africa?
- In Tests, West Indies vs South Africa has largely been a one-sided contest, with South Africa winning over 20 matches out of 30, while West Indies have managed less than 5 victories.
- In ODIs, West Indies vs South Africa has seen Proteas dominate, with over 40 victories from over 60 matches, while West Indies have claimed about 15.
- The rivalry is much more evenly distributed in T20Is, with both teams securing wins in over 20 matches from about 10+. 2. Are West Indies vs South Africa head to head in the ODI World Cup?
2. Are West Indies vs South Africa head to head in the ODI World Cup?
Many matches have been held between West Indies vs South Africa in the ODI World Cup. One was witnessed between these two teams in the 2015 World Cup when Chris Gayle smashed 215 against South Africa, one of the highest scores ever in the tournament’s history.
3. What is the highest total performance of South Africa against West Indies in Head-to-Head T20Is?
In West Indies vs South Africa T20I encounters, South Africa’s highest total is 241/6.
4. What is the High score in T20 between South Africa vs West Indies?
Of the West Indies vs South Africa T20 rivalry, Quinton de Kock holds the highest individual score for South Africa with *141 (not out)**, while for the West Indies, it’s Chris Gayle, 90.
5. Who made the fastest 50 in T20 for West Indies?
Andre Russel recorded one of the fastest 50s of West Indies during a West Indies vs South Africa T20I match, where he reached his half-century in just 19 balls.
6. What is the highest score of the West Indies?
In West Indies vs. South Africa, the West Indies’ highest score in T20Is is 236/6. In ODIs, their top total is 362/5, while their best in Tests is 747, recorded in a drawn match in 2005.
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