Stats: Biggest Test Victories By Margin Of Runs In South Africa

A victory in tests by a big margin of runs states the bowling prowess of the winning team. A pitch where a team, say X scores a huge total, and then dismisses the opposition team for feeble total states how well the bowler's performed in the 4th innings for team X to register a big win.

This could also be because a pitch usually transforms into an overused surface by the time the 4th inning star, and becomes easier for bowling & tougher for batting. However, credit cannot be taken from the bowling team for showing strength and resillience and dismissing the opposition for a low total.

Below are the top 5 biggest test victories by margin of runs in South Africa:

5. South Africa vs India (328 runs), 1996 Durban

In the first test between South Africa and India in 1996 at Durban, the tourists won the toss & elected to bowl first. India dismissed the South African team for 235 runs. Venkatesh Prasad picked up 5 wickets.

In reply, however, India were restricted to a score of 100 runs. Allan Donald picked up 5 wickets. When South Africa came out to bat again, they managed to post 259 runs. 

When India came out to bat again, another shameful performance followed as they were dismissed for mere 66 runs while chasing a target of 395 runs.

Rahul Dravid scored 27* from 73 deliveries but none of the batters could stand the crease with 'The Wall'. South Africa won the match by 328 runs and this win comes 5th on the list.

4. South Africa vs Bangladesh (333 runs), 2017 Potchefstroom

In the first test between South Africa & Bangladesh at Potchefstroom in 2017, Bangladesh won the toss & elected to field first, and heavily paid the price for this decision. South Africa while batting first, declared their innings on 496/3, with major contributions from Dean Elgar (199), Aiden Markram (97) and Hashim Amla (137).

In reply, Bangladesh put up a defiant display and managed to post a total of 320. South Africa declared their second innings at 247/6 and challenged Bangladesh to chase a target of 424.

In the 4th innings, South African bowlers ripped through the Bangladeshi batting lineup and restricted them to a score of 90, winning the match by 333 runs.

3. South Africa vs West Indies (351 runs), 1999 Centurion

The 5th test match between South Africa and West Indies displayed South Africa's sheer dominance at home. Windies skipper Brian Lara opted to field first and South Africa posted 313 in the first innings as West Indian legendary fast bowler Courtney Walsh picked up 6 wickets. 

In reply, the Windies were bowled out for a meagre total of 144 runs with Allan Donald picking up 5 West Indian wickets. South Africa declared their second innings on 399/5 and challenged the West Indies team to chase a mammoth target of 569. 

West Indies batted better in their second innings than in their first and scored a total of 217 runs, but it was not enough and lost the match by 351 runs.

2. South Africa vs New Zealand (358 runs), 2007 Johannesburg

After opting to bat first in 1st test between New Zealand in 2007 at Johannesburg, South Africa were dismissed for a total of 226 as Herschelle Gibbs scored 63 runs and Andre Nel scored 43 runs. 

In reply, New Zealand were restricted to 118 as Dale Steyn picked up 5 wickets. South Africa declared their second innings on 422/3 after Jacques Kallis (186) & Hashim Amla (176*) smacked the Kiwi bowlers all around the park. 

New Zealand were dismayed by their batting in the 4th innings as they were restricted to a total of 172 runs. Dale Steyn again picked up 5 wickets and was adjudged 'Player of the Match' as South Africa won the test by 358 runs. 

1. South Africa vs Australia (492 runs), 2018 Johannesburg

Right after the Cape Town Test, where 3 players of the Australian team were involved in the Sandgate incident, a forgettable test took place for the Australians. 

In the 4th test at Johannesburg, South Africa won the toss & opted to bat first. Courtesy of Aiden Markram's 152 and half-centuries from Temba Bavuma (95*) & AB de Villers' (69), South Africa posted a total of 488. 

Australia in reply were dismissed for a total of 221. Usman Khawaja, Tim Paine & Pat Cummins contributed with valuable fifties. The hosts didn't enforce the follow on and declared their 2nd innings on 344/6. Captain Faf du Plessis scored 120 while first innings' centurion Dean Elgar scored 81. 

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Australia were then bundled out 119; South Africa pacer Vernon Philander picked up 6 wickets and broke the backbone of the Australian team, who were playing without 3 of their main team players - David Warner, Steve Smith & Peter Handscomb. South Africa registered the biggest win by a margin of runs in their country - 492 runs.