Hashim Amla Retires: Five Memorable Knocks of South African Batting Great

Hashim Amla has called time on his international career. One of South Africa’s greatest batsman and cricketing legend, Amla announced his decision to retire from international cricket with immediate effect. A giant of a batsman at his peak, the 36-year-old remains the only South African to score a Test triple century and retires after scoring 18,672 international runs for South Africa. Amla looked to have lost the magic touch that made him a cricketing great in the last couple of years and his call to retire was inevitable. Hashim Amla Announces Retirement From International Cricket With Immediate Effect.

Amla leaves international cricket after representing South Africa in 349 international games and scoring 18,672 runs that included 55 centuries 88 fifty-plus scores. From making his South Africa debut at the Eden Gardens in 2004, Amla went on to play for the Proteas for 15-long years. Take a look some of the most memorable knocks for South Africa.

311* Against England, 2012

A milestone that made Amla the only triple centurion for South Africa in Test cricket. Amla came to the crease with the Proteas at 1/1 and by the time skipper Graeme Smith declared with Amla at 311 not-out, South Africa had already made 637. They didn’t have to bat again in the Test as England buckled under pressure to hand South Africa a famous victory by an innings and 12 runs. South Africa went on to record a memorable 2-0 Test series victory.

119* Against Pakistan, 2010

Shoaib Akhtar, Wahab Riaz and Saeed Ajmal reduced South Africa to totters but not Amla. He made a fighting 119 runs. The next best score was 26 from JP Duminy. Only five Protea batsman – including Amla – could cross double figures. South Africa ended with 228/9 and Amla was not out on 119. South Africa won the game by two runs thanks to Amla’s hundred in the screeching hear of Dubai.

123* Against India, 2010

The 36-year-old had also hit a century in the first innings of the India vs South Africa Test match at the Eden Gardens but it was fighting century in the second innings that left a lasting memory of the player Amla was. Returning to the very ground where he made his debut for South Africa in whites six years ago – in 2004 – Amla showed the world the rock he was made of. South Africa batted first with Alvaro Petersen and Amla hitting hundreds but India replied with over 600 runs. All the Proteas could do was to save the Test with Harbhajan sniffing turn.

Amla laid anchor but the others couldn’t. He remained not out on 123 runs when the final wicket Morne Morkel was dismissed. South Africa lost by an innings but Amla had won.

201 Against England, 2016

He had scored 23 Test hundreds before this one. But this was perhaps the most pressure Amla had played under. Amla was the South African captain when England visited South Africa. England had won the first match before both teams moved to Cape Town. England batted first and through Ben Stokes’ double century declared at 629. South Africa was once again put under heavy pressure especially after losing the opening game by 241 runs.

But Amla made a double century and was involved in a 280-run partnership with Temba Bavuma, who also registered a century. The game ended in a draw and although Amla relinquished the Test captaincy following the conclusion of this game, his century under that pressure will always be remembered.

196 Against Australia, 2012

The match was supposed to be remembered as Ricky Ponting’s farewell game but it instead is known for a famous South Africa Test victory in Australia. Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers hit centuries in a low-scoring game. Amla scored 196 and South Africa won by 309 runs.

It was with Amla that South Africa reached its greatest cricketing heights. Amla was the Man of the Series when South Africa beat England in England and reached the World No 1 ranking in Test cricket in 2012. It was also with Amal at his peak that South Africa regained its formidable status in ODI cricket. Maybe the World Cup never came home both for the Proteas and for Amla but in his glorious Amla steered and anchored South Africa to many memorable victories.

He wouldn’t smash every ball out of the park like a Chris Gayle or Andre Russell but Amla still holds the record of being the fastest batsman to complete 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 and 7000 ODI international runs. He is also the fastest player to hit 8000 ODI runs in terms of the number of innings played. Amla was South Africa’s record man with numerous records to his name. He was South Africa’s first non-white captain and led them to a historic Test series victory in Sri Lanka.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 09, 2019 02:21 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).