Best ODI partnerships of South Africa’s team

ODI partnerships are thrilling and entertaining as they keep both the crowd and team excited during the match. Having the best partnerships in the record of a team is like bunch of fruit in basket. The South African cricket team is one of the finest teams in the cricket industry to have decent partnerships in ODIs. ODI partnerships are also considered important to place a high score for the chasing team. ODI partnerships are necessary to put pressure on the opposing team. Here is the list of all best partnerships of the South African team in ODI:

Playing partners	Runs	Year
Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs	235	9 Mar 2000
Daryll Cullinan and Jonty Rhodes	232	29 Sep 1996
Jean-Paul Duminy and AB de Villiers	219	22 Oct 2010
Gary Kirsten and Neil McKenzie	209	22 Oct 2001
Boeta Dippenaar and Jacques Kallis	194	11 May 2005
Gary Kirsten and Mike Rindel	190	12 Jan 1995
Graeme Smith and Andrew Hall	189*	25 Nov 2005
Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs	187	12 Mar 2006
Gary Kirsten and Andrew Hudson	186	5 Mar 1996
Albie Morkel and AB de Villiers	186	26 Aug 2007

Leading fielders in World Cups

‘You’ve just dropped the World Cup, mate!’ said Australian captain Steve Waugh to Herschelle Gibbs of South Africa, who dropped the catch of the Aussies’ skipper in the semi final of 1999 Cricket World Cup.

Catches play an important role. If dropped, they can let the opponents win, however; if taken, on right time and place; they can even make your day. The leading catches taker in World Cups to date is Ricky Ponting who has taken 25 catches in 39 innings, ensuing in a catches per inning ratio of 0.64. However, on account of the best catches per inning ratio, Anil Kumble of India stands tall with 0.86. Following is the list of leading catchers/fielders in Cricket World Cup

Fielder	Country	Innings	Catches	Catches/Inn
Ricky Ponting	Australia	39	25	0.641
Sanath Jayasuriya	Srilanka	38	18	0.473
Chris Cairns	New Zealand	28	16	0.571
Inzamam-ul-Haq	Pakistan	34	16	0.470
Brian Lara	West Indies	34	16	0.470
Anil Kumble	India	18	14	0.777
Steve Waugh	Australia	33	14	0.424
PA de Silva	Srilanka	35	14	0.400
Carl Hooper	West Indies	20	13	0.650
Paul Collingwood	England	14	12	0.857

Most Fifties by middle-order batsman in cricket World Cups

The feather of most half centuries recorded by a middle order batsman is in the cap of Herschelle Gibbs. The South African middle order batsman (who was formerly an opener) has scored 10 fifties in Cricket World Cup. Although Ricky Ponting, the Australian Skipper and a classy middle order batsman shares this record with him, however; on better batting average and better strike rate, our choice is Herschelle Gibbs. Herschelle Gibbs has scored 10 half centuries at a batting average of 57.15 runs with a strike rate of 87.38. Whereas, Ricky Ponting has also scored 10 half centuries but with a comparatively lower batting average of 48.03 runs and strike rate of 81.06. this tie is expected to be broken in the forthcoming 2011 Cricket World Cup as both the players are in good form and all set to blaze the Sub Continent grounds with their excellent drives and shots.

Most fifties scored in Cricket World Cup

It’s Sachin Tendulkar again. India’s most worshipped and loved batsman who has been considered as one of the best batsman in cricket history holds this record as well. Sachin Tendulkar has scored 17 half centuries in Cricket World Cup history at an average of 57.93 runs per inning. The strike rate of Sachin Tendulker remained phenomenal at 88.21. Ricky Ponting, the Australian skipper and Herschelle Gibbs, a promising batsman from South Africa share the second position en masse. Both have scored 10 half centuries each in Cricket World Cups held to date. Amongst the two, Herschelle Gibbs is better off on the basis of good batting average and strike rate in World Cup matches. His batting average is 56.15 and strike rate is 87.38. Ricky Ponting scored his ten 50s at a strike rate of 81.06 whereas; his batting average for World Cups is 48.03 runs per match.

Top Ten Fielders of South Africa in ODI

South Africa is in fact the only team which is exceptionally best in Test Cricket, One Day Internationals and Twenty-Twenty. They have been very good in their game, as they have the perfect bonding required which helps them in being coordinated.

They are extremely good with their catches and it’s a known thing that they do not miss out in air catches. They dive well, even the senior players do, and this helps the team complement each other. They have always been on the forefront as far as fielding is concerned and hence it’s known as the team with the best fielding side. South Africa players are athletic in nature, which helps them stay for longer time on the field. Here is the list of top ten best fielders of South Africa in ODI:

1. JH Kallis
2. HH Gibbs
3. JN Rhodes
4. SM Pollock
5. GC Smith
6. WJ Cronje
7. DJ Cullinan
8. G Kirsten
9. BM McMillan
10. AB de Villiers

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