Jacques Kallis: Top 5 ODI performances

Tags: South Africa, Jacques Henry Kallis

Published on: Aug 02, 2014

South Africa’s greatest all-rounder Jacques Kallis recently announced his retirement from international cricket, which means he won’t be seen in South African colours ever again.

South Africa’s greatest all-rounder Jacques Kallis recently announced his retirement from international cricket, which means he won’t be seen in South African colours ever again. Kallis had already announced his retirement from Test cricket late last year. And now, he has decided he won’t feature in one-dayers as well. With Kallis walking into the sunset, we look at the finest performances by the all-rounder in one-dayers.


113 not vs Sri Lanka at Dhaka: This was the first semi-final of the inaugural ICC Champions Trophy in 1998. Sri Lanka inserted South Africa into bat in the key game, and had them in serious trouble at 87 for 4. Kallis then took charge, and single-handedly led the Proteas to a competitive total. He was unbeaten on 113 from exactly 100 balls with five fours and the same number of sixes. None of the Lankans could make any impact on him though South Africa were under pressure. Thanks to Kallis, South Africa finished on 240 for 7 in 39 overs (rain-restricted match), and won the game by 92 runs (D/L method).


104 vs India at Ahmedabad: This game in 2010 saw many South Africans pummel the Indian bowling to all parts of the ground; Kallis was one of them. After Loots Bosman and Hashim Amla added 113 for the opening wicket, Kallis came in and smashed a brilliant 104 from only 94 balls with five fours and three sixes. The innings was overshadowed by AB de Villiers, who blasted 102 from 59 balls with 11 fours and 3 sixes, but it was undoubtedly among Kallis’ best ODI knocks.


104 not out vs Australia at Perth: This effort in 2002 came in a losing cause, but was another high-quality knock nonetheless. Australia batted first and put up an impressive 283 on the board. In reply, South Africa managed only 250, 104 of those coming from the blade of Kallis. Most of the other batsmen got starts, but it was only Kallis who carried on. His knock came off 120 balls with seven fours and one six. In spite of ending up on the losing side, he was the man of the match.


5 for 30 vs West Indies at Dhaka: This was the final of the 1998 ICC Champions Trophy, and Kallis once again stood up when it mattered. Philo Wallace’s hundred had put West Indies in a position of strength, but Kallis’ five-for ensured West Indies were kept down to a below-par total. Kallis got the key wickets of Hooper, Arthurton and Simmons among others as West Indies were restricted to 245. Kallis also chipped in 37 with the bat as South Africa won by four wickets.


5 for 41 Pakistan at Cape Town: In this match back in 2002, South Africa set Pakistan a tough target of 266. Kallis ensured that Pakistan did not get close. His wickets in the match included those of Youhana, Inzamam, Razzaq and Afridi. Thanks to Kallis’ wonderful spell, Pakistan were all-out for 231, and won the game by 34 runs.


--By A Cricket Analyst

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