The magnitude of India's victory at Centurion should not be underestimated, because South Africa lose one-day matches at home about as often as Zimbabwe win them. Since they first put on their pyjamas in 1991-92 they have lost only 24 of 90 one-dayers in South Africa. And yesterday's 41-run defeat to India was only their sixth in the last 35 matches. Rob Smyth look at the previous five 1 East London, January 24, 1999
Lost to West Indies by 43 runs

A rare moment of glory for West Indies in a forgettable tour, on which they lost 11 out of 12 international matches. It was a bizarre match. Only two West Indies batsmen reached double figures in a total of 292 for 9, but Shivnarine Chanderpaul (150) and Carl Hooper (108) went all the way, adding 236 for the fourth wicket. Shaun Pollock grabbed 6 for 35 but the rest of the bowlers took some fearful hammer, particularly Jacques Kallis (6-0-51-0). In reply South Africa were quickly 18 for 3 and never really in the hunt, though Lance Klusener and Mark Boucher did put together a spirited eighth-wicket partnership of 64.

2 Bloemfontein, January 23, 2000
Lost to England by 9 wickets

England stunned South Africa with a comprehensive victory in their first match of the Standard Bank tournament. Darren Gough (4 for 29) bowled imperiously with the new ball to reduce South Africa to 23 for 4, and Mark Ealham (10-1-22-1) strangled the life out of their innings in the middle. England breezed to their target of 185 with more than 10 overs to spare. Nasser Hussain (85) and Nick Knight (71*) added 165 for the first wicket, a record for one-dayers against South Africa until Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar put on 193 last week.

3 Durban, February 2, 2000
Lost to Zimbabwe by 2 wickets

A seventh-wicket partnership of 91 in 17 overs between Andy Flower and Guy Whittall led Zimbabwe to an unlikely victory -- their first in South Africa -- which they sealed with a scrambled leg-bye off the last ball. They were chasing 223 thanks to a withering 65 from Klusener, but at 107 for 6, defeat seemed inevitable. Enter Flower and Whittall, and though they were parted with 25 still needed, Heath Streak smashed a quickfire 20 to take the Zims home.

4 Cape Town, 14 April, 2000
Lost to Australia by 5 wickets

A rare thrashing for South Africa as Australia reached their target of 145 with more than half their 50 overs to spare. Glenn McGrath took 2 for 13 from 10 impeccable overs and Adam Gilchrist held six catches, a world one-day record. Australia were soon in trouble at 21 for 3 before Damien Martyn stroked a majestic 31-ball 50 to take Australia to the brink of victory. Still, South Africa had the last laugh -- they won the decider at The Wanderers two days later.

5 Johannesburg, January 17, 2001
Lost to Sri Lanka by 4 runs

Having hammered Sri Lanka in the first five one-dayers, South Africa took their foot off the gas in the sixth and were duly punished. In a match reduced to 42 overs Sri Lanka made 214 for 6, thanks mainly to a Bevan-esque 65 from Russel Arnold, but the vagaries of the Duckworth/Lewis method meant South Africa needed 209 from 42 overs. They were cruising at 131 for 3 in the 27th over when the spinners got to work,. And though Shaun Pollock slammed three sixes in an unbeaten 21, he could not add the fourth that South Africa needed to win off the last ball.

Rob Smyth is on the staff of Wisden.com

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