Blast from the past: SA returns to international cricket at Eden Gardens

Today in SA sports history: November 10

1902 — Jimmy Sinclair scores 104 in SA’s follow-on innings of 225 in the final third Test against Australia at Newlands. But it wasn’t enough to stave off defeat as the visitors wrapped up the match the next day by 10 wickets to take the first-ever series between the two nations 2-0.

1991 — SA’s cricketers play their first official ODI, taking on India in a three-match series to mark their return to international competition. The hosts won the toss at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and put SA in to bat first. Kepler Wessels top-scored with 50 off 95 balls and Adrian Kuiper added 43 from 64 deliveries as SA made 177/8 in 47 overs. Allan Donald struck early, reducing India to 3/2 and went on to dismiss their four top batsmen, including top-scorer Sachin Tendulkar (62). But India romped to victory by three wickets with 38 balls remaining. Donald took 5/29. A total of 11 players made international debuts that day — one Indian and 10 South Africans. Wessels had already been capped for Australia.

2000 — Hawk Makepula suffers his first professional defeat as he loses on points to Irene Pacheco in Las Vegas for the vacant IBF flyweight title.

2001 — Shaun Bartlett scores in the second half to give Bafana Bafana a 1-0 win over an understrength Egypt side in a friendly at Johannesburg Stadium. Making his debut that day was defender Mbulelo Oldjohn Mabizela, a future captain of the national team.

2001 — Winger Pieter Rossouw scores SA’s only try, as they go down 10-20 to France in their opening match of the end-of-year tour at Stade de France.

2002 — Andrew Hall takes three wickets for one run in two overs, as the Proteas bowl out Sri Lanka for 130 to win the first Test at the Wanderers by an innings and 64 runs. Jacques Kallis had top-scored with 75 in SA’s knock of 386.

2008 — JP Duminy scores an unbeaten 111 off 87 balls to lead the Proteas to a 212-run win over Zimbabwe in the final second ODI at Centurion, taking the series 2-0. SA posted 331/5, before bowling out the visitors for 119. Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel and Roelof van der Merwe took three wickets each.

2012 — Scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar scores the only try of the match, as the Springboks win their end-of-year tour-opener against Ireland 16-12 at Lansdowne Road. Flyhalf Patrick Lambie added the conversion and three penalties.

2017 — Bafana Bafana's hopes of qualifying for the 2018 World  Cup in Russia go up in smoke after they are beaten 0-2 by Senegal at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

2018 — Replacement hooker Bongi Mbonambi scores a last-gasp try four minutes after the final hooter to give the Springboks a 29-26 win over France at Stade de France. Winger Sbu Nkosi scored SA’s other try, with flyhalf Handré Pollard converting both and landing five penalties.