The Proteas team is facing the task of chasing a target of 421 runs, which is a world record, in the first match against Australia at the Kingsmead stadium.
The team will have five sessions to counter the attacks of Australian bowlers. Nevertheless, the Proteas have already achieved miracles by successfully completing chases against the Australians almost twenty years ago.
Zahir Adams from IOL Sport compiled a list of the five most successful Proteas chases in Test cricket matches.
First Successful Proteas Chases
The first of these chases was in 2008 at the WACA ground in Perth, where the team defeated Australia by 6 wickets after chasing a target of 414/4. This is considered one of the greatest chases in the history of Test cricket.
The second instance occurred in 2002 in Durban at the Kingsmead stadium, when South Africa won by 5 wickets, thanks to centuries by Herschelle Gibbs and important contributions from Gary Kirsten and Jacques Kallis while chasing a target of 340/5.
The third example dates back to 1953 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where South Africa achieved a famous victory by chasing a target of 297/4 against Australia.
The list also features two early triumphs for South Africa. One was in 1906 in Johannesburg, where the team secured a dramatic victory by chasing a target of 287/9 against England. The second instance took place in 2008 in Edgbaston, Birmingham, when they chased a target of 283/5 against England.