Across three formats, the Proteas now have incredible run-chase records, and nothing could better epitomise the spirit of South African cricket.
South Africa now hold the records for highest totals chased in both ODIs and T20Is after putting the West Indies away in an unbelievable match at SuperSport Park
Chasing down a target of 259 took some doing, even on a belter of a pitch, required each batter to perfectly understand their role and wherever possible eliminate wasted deliveries.
The innings was timed to perfection, right down to knocking off the chase before the match got down to the last over.
For the Proteas to chase down that epic total, some inspiration was needed and while many of the players would have experienced high-scoring T20s, they also had a beacon from the past to look to for a boost of confidence.
The so-called 438 game is burned into the folklore of South African cricket as one of the great performances.
During that memorable match at the Wanderers, the dressing room needed a lift before steeling themselves to set about.
In both of those matches the Proteas showed remarkable composure and set out to not fall too far behind the required rate.
In Test cricket, South Africa’s highest run chase came during the first match of the series in Australia in December 2008.
Australia set South Africa a target that proved to be the second-highest run chase in the history of Test cricket.
On that occasion, the rate South Africa had to score at to win wasn’t really a huge factor it was more about being able to resist the Australian pace attack long enough to win.
After Graeme Smith had laid a platform in typically bombastic and combative fashion, we were treated to a virtuoso performance from a young AB de Villiers.
These run-chase records tell the world, South Africans do not give up.
