Today in SA sports history: November 18
1995 — Left-wing Chester Williams scores two tries as the Springboks beat England 24-14 at Twickenham. Scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen scored SA’s third try.
1995 — Baby Jake Matlala becomes the first South African to win world titles at two weights when he lifts the WBO junior-flyweight crown after beating Scotsman Paul Weir on a technical decision in Glasgow. The fight went to scorecards prematurely after Weir suffered a cut caused by an accidental headbutt. Matlala had previously held the WBO flyweight title.
2006 — Flyhalf Butch James and winger Akona Ndungane score tries, but the Springboks blow a 21-13 lead to go down 21-23 to England at Twickenham. The win ended a seven-match losing streak for the hosts. Frans Steyn, playing at fullback, slotted his first drop goal for the Boks.
2007 — Dale Steyn takes his second straight 10-wicket haul and Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla score their second consecutive centuries as the Proteas beat New Zealand by an innings and 59 runs in the final second Test at Centurion. SA won the series 2-0. Steyn took 4/42 in the visitors’ first innings of 188 and 6/49 in their second knock of 136.
2009 — Bafana Bafana are held to a goalless draw by Jamaica in a friendly at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
2014 — Captain Mignon du Preez becomes the first SA woman to score a Test century abroad, making 102 in a one-off against India at Mysore. But it wasn’t enough for SA, replying to the hosts’ 400/6, to avoid the follow-on and they went on to lose the four-day match by an innings and 34 runs.
2015 — The second Test between the Proteas and India in Bengaluru ends in a draw after four days are lost to bad weather. SA had been bowled out for 218 in their first innings, with AB de Villiers making 85.
2017 — In a fairytale ending, Durban-based Hayley Nixon wins the ICF canoe ocean racing world championships in Hong Kong in 1 hr 55 min 25 sec, ahead of compatriot Michelle Burn 1:55:41. Nixon, 34 at the time, was a latecomer to paddling, having switched from rowing after failing to make the SA Olympic team in 2012. She first focused on flat-water distance racing, making the top 10 in the women’s K2 at the canoe world marathon championships in 2014 and 2015. She turned to surf ski in 2016 and the next year was a world champion. Hank McGregor, SA’s multiple world marathon champion, finished second in the men’s race the next day, while SA’s Jasper Mocke came in third.
2017 — The Springboks hold on to edge France 18-17 at the Stade de France in Paris. Jesse Kriel and Dillyn Leyds scored tries, with flyhalf Handré Pollard converting one and kicking two penalties.
2018 — Substitute Thembi Kgatlana scores five minutes from the end to give Banyana Banyana a 1-0 win over defending champions Nigeria in their opening group match of the African Women’s Championship in Cape Coast‚ Ghana. It was only the second time the SA women had beaten the West African side.
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