Blast from the past: Bok hooker Dalton gets the bullet in Battle of Boet Erasmus

Today in SA sports history: June 3

1972 — England, who had finished the Five Nations without a win, take on the Springboks in a one-off Test at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. They were expected to be easy meat, but they stunned the home team as they ran out 18-9 winners, with winger Alan Morley scoring the only try of the match. Fullback Sam Doble converted and added four penalties, while SA flyhalf Dawie Snyman responded with three penalties. This was the first time the Boks had played a match where tries were worth four points instead of three.

1995 — The Springboks beat Canada 20-0 in their third and final World Cup group match in Port Elizabeth, but it is overshadowed by a massive fight that sees the game dubbed the Battle of Boet Erasmus. Bok hooker James Dalton was red-carded along with two Canadian players, captain Gareth Rees and prop Rod Snow. Left-wing Pieter Hendricks was later cited and he and Dalton were thrown out the team for the rest of the tournament, opening the way for Chester Williams to return to the SA side. The night match was also delayed because of a power failure. Playing for Canada was SA-born Christian Stewart, who later played for the Springboks.

2000 — The US hammer Bafana Bafana 4-0 in a four-nations tournament match in Washington DC, matching their biggest defeat to date. Cobi Jones scored two of the home team’s goals. The SA team was captained by Shaun Bartlett in the absence of Lucas Radebe.

2001 — A second-string Bafana Bafana hold Liberia to a 1-1 draw in an African Nations’ Cup qualifier in Monrovia. SA, having already qualified top of their group, fielded mostly local players and Andrew Rabutla opened the scoring in the 39th minute. The home side equalised after technical director, the great George Weah, had brought himself on in the second half.

2010 — Jacques Kallis scores a critical 57 from 55 balls as the Proteas edge the West Indies by one wicket with two balls remaining in the final fifth ODI in Port-of-Spain to score a 5-0 series whitewash. JP Duminy (51) and Hashim Amla (45) also made important contributions to help SA chase down the 253 needed for victory.

2012 — Bafana Bafana are held to a 1-1 draw in a World Cup qualifier by lowly Ethiopia, ranked 138th in the world, at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium near Rustenburg. SA, 67th in the world, were trailing until Katlego Mphela equalised in the 77th minute.

2016 — West Indian spin-bowler Sunil Narine puts the skids under the Proteas in Providence, taking six wickets to guide his team to a four-wicket win in a triangular match also featuring Australia. SA were bowled out for 188, Rilee Rossouw top-scoring with 61. Kieron Pollard hit an unbeaten 67 as the hosts got home with 11 balls remaining.

2017 — Hashim Amla scores 103 and Imran Tahir takes four wickets as the Proteas beat Sri Lanka by 96 runs in an ICC Champions Trophy group match at The Oval. SA scored 299/6.