Some rivalries are so Goated that they become an inevitable part of the history such is the rivalry between two of the most powerful cricketing Giants India and South Africa that are set to tussle against one another in a 3 match ODI series starting from November 30.
Many masterclass batting innings have been there in the memories of the fans for the lifetime but there are few bowling performances that fans cannot forget when they talk about this battle.
In this article we will have a look at top 5 bowlers who have ruled the battle between India and South Africa
1.Shaun Pollock – 48 wickets
One of the greatest all rounders to play the sport Shaun Pollock is at the top of the list with 48 wickets against India in just 33 innings. Known for his ability to move the ball Shaun Pollock has been a hot commodity picking up 48 wickets with a miserly economy of 4.04 that includes one 5 wicket and 1 4 wicket haul.
Not only as a bowler but Pollock the batsman have also played a few handy knocks down the order for South Africa scoring 238 runs with an average of 22.
2. Allan Donald – 46 wickets
Allan Donald, the terrifying South African pacer, took 46 ODI wickets in only 26 matches against India, which was the highest number of his wickets against a single opponent. He allowed runs at the rate of only 4.05 and had an average of 21.15 in India between 1991 and 2002. In November 1991, he stunned the Indian batting lineup with 5-29 and though the crowd was large at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, he was able to deliver one of his unforgettable performance in ODIs by picking up a breath-taking five-wicket haul.
3. Anil Kumble – 46 wickets
Anil Kumble without any doubt still is the most outstanding bowler of all times to have ever involved in the ODI rivalry between India and South Africa, and that would be a huge margin. The great leg-spin bowler took 46 wickets against South Africa in ODIs over 39 innings, while maintaining an average of 32 and an incredible economy rate of 3.94. He made the opposing batsmen suffer by his tight bowling and his strangle-hold over their runs as evidenced by his great economy even on days he found it hard to get wickets.
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Besides, the number of wins attributed to Anil Kumble’s bowling against South Africa in ODI cricket still stands tall and he is the most successful bowler from India. The next best is Harbhajan Singh with 31 scalps.
4.Dale Steyn – 34 wickets
Dale Steyn, the legendary speedster of South Africa, had India under his spell in Tests and ODIs throughout his playing days. The ex-cricketer, in the shorter format of the two, managed to dismiss 34 Indian batsmen in a mere 18 innings at an impressive average of 22.44 while allowing almost 5 runs per over (4.95) which is a statement to his being a fierce bowler when the conditions were like the ODIs were dominated by batters .
Dale Steyn took his solitary five-wicket haul against India during the 2011 World Cup in Nagpur, where with 5-50 he went on to ruin the home team, converting their score at one stage from 267-1 to 296 all out. A few years after the first instance, Steyn was back with 3-25 in Johannesburg where he had started his bowling saga with two consecutive maidens against the Indian opener Rohit Sharma while his team’s score was 359.
5. Lance Klusener – 31 wickets
The ‘Player of the Tournament’ from the 1999 World Cup, legendary South African all-rounder Lance Klusener picked up 31 wickets against India which was his highest collection against a single opponent among all his 192 ODI career scalps. The cricketer did so in just 20 innings spanning 23 games with an impressive bowling average of only 24.03 which was his second-best against Test-playing countries after Pakistan.
Lance Klusener scalped five of those in one match, that too during the very first encounter of the 1997 South Africa ODI tri-series in Bloemfontein where he ended up with having match-winning figures of 5-42.
