1954 — Jake Tuli, already considered to be on the wane despite being only 23 years old, loses his Empire flyweight title to unbeaten Welshman Dai Dower on points over 15 rounds at Harringay Stadium in London. The winner had been promised a world title crack, though that materialised only in 1957, with Dower getting knocked out in one round.
1970 — Manfred Fiess, an instrument maker from Pretoria who had been shooting for only two years, equals the world record with a score of 598 out of 600 to win the men’s rifle prone competition at the shooting world championships in Phoenix. Ann de Vos gave SA a second medal at the tournament, claiming silver in the women’s 50m rifle prone with a score of 591, just one point behind winner Desanka Perovic of Yugoslavia. The Roodepoort markswoman also finished fourth in the women’s 10m air rifle, scoring the same number of points as the silver and bronze medallists. At his next world championship four years later Fiess scored 596 to finish fifth. He continued competing for a quarter of a century and was still good enough to make the podium at the African championships in 1993 and 1995.
1996 — Gary Kirsten scores an unbeaten 105 as the Proteas beat Australia by seven wickets in a triangular tournament ODI at Indore. SA restricted the Aussies to 219/7, with Allan Donald taking 3/57 and spinner Pat Symcox 1/28.
1996 — Phillip Holiday defends his IBF lightweight title by outpointing Joel Diaz of Mexico at the Wembley Stadium in Johannesburg.
1997 — Adam Bacher scores 96 for the Proteas in the weather-hit drawn second Test against Pakistan in Sheikhupura. The first match of the three-Test series had also ended in a draw.
2001 — Opener Boeta Dippenaar scores 81 as the Proteas beat India by 46 runs in East London in a triangular tournament ODI. SA made 282/4.
2003 — Spinner Paul Adams takes 7/128, but hosts Pakistan control proceedings before going on to win the first Test in Lahore by eight wickets. The home side had no trouble reaching the 161-run target in the 41st over.
2011 — Australia beat the Proteas by 93 runs in a rain-hit ODI at Centurion to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Ricky Ponting top-scored with 63 as the visitors made 183/4 in 29 overs. Faf du Plessis was the best of SA’s batsmen, making 27 for the hosts who were bowled out for 129 in 22 overs.
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