Captain Wolvaardt: a cricketer for the ages

AB de Villiers goes berserk. He had done something similar a month earlier at the Wanderers when sporting a pink ensemble smashed his way to 149 from 44 balls.

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But here on the World Cup stage, he went even one better, bludgeoning 162 not out off only 66 balls against the West Indies. It included the fastest 50, 100, and 150 in ODI history at the time.

Kolkata, Eden Gardens, 2023.

With the Proteas reeling at 24/4 in the World Cup semifinal, David Miller delivered under pressure with a superb century to lift the Proteas to a competitive 212. It was not enough to keep the mighty Australia at bay, but Miller showed the BMT (Big Match Temperament) that many of his teammates lacked.

I was privileged enough to be present at both matches. Witnessing, in my opinion, the two greatest World Cup innings by a Proteas batter.

They were contrasting in every manner, but equally brilliant.

But all that changed yesterday.