Year Review: South Africa team's performance in 2015

2015 was a year of mixed performance for the South African team. Except a journey till the semi-finals in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, their performance was average or say poor according to their standards. The major reason being their dismal performance in Tests. They began the year as the number side in the Test rankings and will end the year as the top-ranked team. But, the supremacy was lacking. The Proteas have only a single win this year while losing four Tests and played for three draws. South Africa were ordinary in the ODIs and T20Is as well. In all, they played 16 ODIs and won 11 matches out of it. While in the 10 T20Is they played in 2015, they managed to win in 7 matches. Here is the review of South Africa team’s performance in 2015.

1. Sir Vivian Richards Trophy:

Tests

South Africa came into the New Year after a Boxing Day draw at Port Elizabeth against West Indies. However, the Proteas were already ahead in the series 1-0 after winning the first Test at Centurion. In the third and the final Test at Cape Town, AB de Villiers hit a fantastic century to help South Africa gain a lead of 92 runs over West Indies’ first innings score of 329. Steve Harmer and Steyn then rocked the Windies as they tumbled for 215 setting a target of just 123 runs which they chased down easily. This win sealed the Test series 2-0 for South Africa.

Limited overs series

The ODI series was a sparkling one. The highlight of the series was AB de Villiers. De Villiers, in the second ODI ripped through the record books and hit a magical hundred off just 31 balls, breaking the record for the fastest century in ODIs. The Proteas continued their dominance in ODI series as well, winning it with a 4-1 scoreline. The feeble West Indies, however, turned into a powerful force as the T20 series arrived. South Africa lost to West Indies in the first two T20Is in which Chris Gayle started. However, Morne van Wyk’s unbeaten century in the last T20I paved way for a consolidating victory for them.