1948 — Eric Sturgess, an ex-fighter pilot, is beaten in straight sets by 19-year-old American Richard “Pancho” Gonzales, an ex-sailor, in the final of the US lawn tennis championships in New York. Gonzales won the first two sets 6-2 6-3 before being forced to work hard to take the third 14-12.
1953 — Brothers Jaap and Dolf Bekker score tries as the Springboks bounce back to down Australia 18-8 in the third Test in Durban to take a 2-1 lead in the four-match series. South Africa, fielding six debutants including winger Dolf and lock Jan Pickard scored four tries with rookie centre Danie Rossouw and flanker Basie van Wijk also dotting down.
1976 — Motorcycle star Kork Ballington scores the first GP win of his career, taking the Spanish 350cc title over 34 laps of the Montjuic circuit in Barcelona. Riding an over the counter Yamaha, he clocked an average 130.48km/h on a track considered too dangerous for F1 cars, beating Italy's double world champion Walter Villa. On the same day Durban-based Alan North finished third in the 250cc class.
1993 — South Africa win their first Test series in Sri Lanka 1-0 as the final third Test in Colombo ends in a draw with no play possible on the last day.
1993 — Terence Lazard breaks the almost 54-year-old record for the highest individual score in South African first-class cricket, scoring 307 not out for Boland against Western Province in Wellington. Eric Rowan made 306 not out at the Wanderers in December 1939.
1998 — A weakened Proteas team shocks a full-strength Australian side to win the Commonwealth Games cricket gold in Kuala Lumpur. A few younger players were blooded at the expense of experienced players such as skipper Hansie Cronje and fast bowler Alan Donald, but they came through with flying colours. Shaun Pollock, the South African captain for the tournament, won the toss and put the Aussies in to bat on a tricky pitch, and then got rid of their top three for 28 runs. An unbeaten 90 by skipper Steve Waugh helped Australia to 183. Only Mike Rindel (67), Jacques Kallis (44) and Andrew Hudson (36) made double figures for South Africa, but it was enough as they reached the target with four overs to spare. That remains the only Games where cricket was on the roster.
2004 — Finishing the match on the reserve day after rain disrupted play the previous day, the Proteas are eliminated from the ICC Champions Trophy when they are beaten by the West Indies at the Oval. South Africa scored 246/6 but their opponents won the match by six wickets with seven balls remaining.
2007 — Morne Morkel takes 4/17 as the Proteas, needing 154, beat New Zealand by six wickets in a World T20 group match in Durban. Justin Kemp struck an unbeaten 89 off 56 balls.
2009 — Katlego Mphela scores to give a lacklustre Bafana Bafana a 1-0 win over Madagascar in a friendly in Kimberley.
2015 — Hekkie Budler retains his WBA strawweight title as he outpoints Simpiwe Konkco at Emperors Palace.
2015 — The Springboks suffer a shock defeat to Japan in their World Cup opener, going down 34-32 in Brighton. South Africa scored four tries to three but Japanese fullback Ayumu Goromaru kept his team in the hunt with one try, two conversions and five penalties before substitute Karne Hesketh went over to give his team a famous triumph.
2018 — Captain Dane van Niekerk scores 53 before the second ODI against the West Indies in Bridgetown is rained out.
2021 — Lizelle Lee scores 61 as the South African women tie the final fifth ODI against the West Indies at North Sound.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.