1947 — SA cricket captain Alan Melville scores 117 at Lord’s, his fourth consecutive Test century in as many innings, but it’s not enough to prevent the follow-on in the second Test against England. Forced to bat again, Melville was dismissed for eight in the second innings later in the day. England won by 10 wickets the following day, knocking up the 26 runs needed to win in 12.1 overs.
1978 — Kork Ballington wins his third 350cc race of the season at the Dutch motorcycling Grand Prix in Assen. He ended second in the 250cc.
1979 — In a display of total domination, Gerrie Coetzee stops former world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks in the first round of their elimination bout in Monte Carlo. The fight lasted two minutes and three seconds, when the referee waved it over as Spinks went down for the third time. South African television audiences, however, didn’t get to watch it live because it took place on a Sunday — SABC screened it just after midnight instead. The win meant Coetzee would meet John Tate, who beat Kallie Knoetze in the other eliminator, for the WBA crown vacated by Muhammad Ali. Spinks had briefly held the world title the previous year when he had dethroned Ali before losing it in the rematch several months later.
1995 — Joel Stransky slots a drop late in extra time to give the Springboks a famous 15-12 win over New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final at Ellis Park. The victory was also SA’s 11th in a row, overhauling the previous mark of 10 achieved by the team from 1949 to 1953. The trophy was handed over by SA president Nelson Mandela, who endeared himself to rugby fans by wearing the No.6 Springbok jersey of captain Francois Pienaar.
1998 — Bafana Bafana play their final Group C match of the World Cup, needing to beat Saudi Arabia convincingly at Parc Lescure in Bordeaux to advance to the knockout phase. Striker Shaun Bartlett scores early, but their opponents come back, with Sami Al-Jaber and Yousuf Al-Thunayan converting penalties to go 2-1 up. Bartlett levelled matters in the third minute of optional time, scoring from the third penalty of the match. SA had needed to win by three goals to advance to the knockout stages.
2000 — Scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen scores the only try of the match, but the Springboks lose the second Test to England in Bloemfontein 22-27. The series ended 1-1.
2006 — Winger Brent Russell scores SA’s only try as the Springboks are hammered 26-36 by France in a one-off Test at Newlands. The visitors scored four tries and two dropped goals.
2007 — Vernon Philander makes his debut for the Proteas, taking 4/22 as the Proteas beat Ireland by 42 runs in a rain-shortened one-off ODI in Belfast.
2016 — The Proteas are blown away by the West Indies in an ODI in Bridgetown, being bowled out for 185 to lose by 100 runs. Darren Bravo scored 102 to set up the West Indians innings and see them into the final of the triangular tournament against Australia.
2017 — The Springboks score four tries as they beat France 35-12 in Johannesburg for a clean sweep in the three-match series.
2019 — Bafana Bafana are beaten 0-1 by Ivory Coast in their Africa Cup of Nations opener in Cairo. Jonathan Kodjia scored the winner in the 65th minute.
2019 — The Proteas lose their fifth World Cup group match from seven starts, doing down to Pakistan by 49 runs at Lord’s. Chasing 309 for victory, SA ended their innings on 259/9, with skipper Faf du Plessis top-scoring with 63.
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