Hey there, cricket fans! Imagine two teams stepping onto the field—one with the raw power of the African savanna, the other with the silky spin and flair of island magic. That’s the South Africa National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline (the Lions) for you. This rivalry isn’t just about runs and wickets; it’s a story of resilience, heartbreak, and those nail-biting finishes that keep us glued to our screens late into the night.
Whether you’re a kid just discovering the thrill of a cover drive or a grandparent reminiscing about the ’90s, this timeline takes you on a journey through over three decades of battles across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. We’ll chat about the highs, the lows, and everything in between in a way that’s as easy as chatting over a cup of tea. And yes, I’ve got a handy table to keep it all straight—no squinting at fine print here. By the end, you’ll feel like you’ve lived every ball. Let’s dive in!
The Early Days: A Rocky Start in the 1990s
Picture this: It’s 1992, and the world is still buzzing from the end of apartheid in South Africa. The Proteas are back on the international scene, hungry to prove themselves. Sri Lanka, fresh off their shock World Cup win that year, are the underdogs with a bag of tricks. Their first meeting? A World Cup thriller in Wellington where Sri Lanka chased down 212 with just three wickets in hand. Talk about a baptism of fire!
The real fireworks came in 1993. South Africa toured Sri Lanka for three Tests—their first-ever series Down Under in the subcontinent. The first at Moratuwa was a draw, with rain playing spoilsport like an uninvited guest. But the second in Colombo? Oh boy. The Proteas hammered an innings victory, thanks to a monster 495 all out. Hansie Cronje and Daryll Cullinan were on fire. The third was another draw, but the seeds of rivalry were sown.
ODIs kicked off strong for Sri Lanka too. In that 1992 World Cup, they edged out a win, and by 1993’s tri-series in Sri Lanka, the Lions were holding their own. South Africa won the series 3-0, but Sri Lanka’s spinners, led by the wily Muttiah Muralitharan (who debuted around this time), started weaving their web.
By the mid-’90s, bilateral series were heating up. In 1994, Sri Lanka toured South Africa for ODIs, splitting the series 2-1. Aravinda de Silva’s elegant strokes had the crowds cheering. Tests were rarer back then—only a handful—but each one felt like a chess match. Sri Lanka’s 1995 tour saw draws, but the Proteas’ pace attack, with Allan Donald thundering in, was a sight to behold.
Fun fact: In those early days, Sri Lanka won just 20% of ODIs against South Africa. It was like the Proteas were the big brother, but the Lions were learning fast, sneaking in upsets that made headlines.
The 2000s: Epic Series, Heartbreaks, and Murali Magic
Fast-forward to the 2000s, and cricket had exploded globally. The 2003 World Cup in South Africa was a turning point—co-hosted by the Proteas, but Sri Lanka stole the show early, beating them by nine wickets in the Super Sixes. Remember Romesh Kaluwitharana’s explosive start? That loss stung the hosts bad.
Tests in 2000 were pure drama. Sri Lanka’s home series: They thumped South Africa by an innings in Galle, with Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene building castles. But the Proteas hit back in Kandy by seven runs—yes, seven! Shaun Pollock’s grit sealed it. The third was a draw, but Murali’s 9/65 in the second innings was wizardry.
ODIs swung wildly. The 2002/03 VB Series in Australia saw Sri Lanka win two out of three league games against South Africa, thanks to Sanath Jayasuriya’s hurricane batting. But the Proteas dominated home soil, winning series 4-1 in 2002. By 2004, Sri Lanka’s tour of South Africa ended 3-2 in ODIs for the hosts, but the Lions’ fightback showed their spine.
The mid-2000s brought heartbreak for Sri Lanka—the 2004 tsunami devastated the nation, yet they played on, inspired. In 2006, a tri-series in South Africa saw the teams split wins, with Herschelle Gibbs’ century a highlight for the Proteas.
Tests remained South Africa’s domain. The 2008 series in Sri Lanka was drawn 1-1, but Murali’s 8/92 in Colombo had fans chanting his name. Overall in the decade, South Africa led Tests 6-2, but ODIs were closer at 18-12 for the Proteas.
One unforgettable moment: The 2009 T20 World Cup semi-final. Sri Lanka beat South Africa by seven runs in a low-scorer, with Angelo Mathews holding his nerve. The Lions went on to the final—classic underdog stuff!
The 2010s: Whitewashes, Chases, and Shifting Sands
The 2010s were a rollercoaster. South Africa toured Sri Lanka in 2014 for ODIs, winning 2-1, but the T20s were shared. Then came the infamous 2019 tour—Sri Lanka’s batsmen crumbled to 107 all out in the first ODI, but the Proteas whitewashed them 5-0. Ouch! Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada were unstoppable.
Tests? The 2014 series in Sri Lanka was a 1-1 draw, with South Africa’s Kumar Sangakkara (wait, no—Mahela’s farewell was emotional). Actually, Dimuth Karunaratne’s resilience shone. South Africa won the 2017 home series 3-0, but Sri Lanka stole the second Test by chasing 388—the highest successful chase against them at the time.
T20Is exploded in popularity. The first official bilateral in 2013 saw South Africa win by 12 runs. By 2019, the Proteas swept 3-0 at home, with David Miller’s power-hitting.
World Cups added spice. In 2015, Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 133 runs in a pool game—Sangakkara’s 104 was poetic. But the 2019 WC saw South Africa edge a thriller by nine runs.
Stats from the decade: South Africa won 70% of T20Is, but ODIs were 50-50. The rivalry balanced out, with Sri Lanka’s spin duo of Herath and Lakmal troubling the Proteas no end.
A standout: Kusal Perera’s 153* in 2019’s Durban Test—a miraculous chase of 304 to win by four wickets. It was like watching a movie script unfold!
The 2020s: Modern Twists, Low Scores, and New Heroes
Entering the 2020s, COVID shuffled schedules, but the fire burned. The 2021 Sri Lanka tour saw the Lions win the ODI series 2-1 at home, with Wanindu Hasaranga’s leg-spin bamboozling. T20s? South Africa swept 3-0, thanks to Tabraiz Shamsi’s mysteries.
2022 brought balance: Sri Lanka whitewashed ODIs 3-0 at home, but South Africa hit back in T20s. The 2023 World Cup was brutal—South Africa posted 428/5, demolishing Sri Lanka by 102 runs. De Kock’s double ton was fireworks.
Tests in 2024? Disaster for Sri Lanka. Touring South Africa, they folded for 42 in Durban—the lowest Test total ever. South Africa won by 209 runs. The second in Gqeberha was another innings loss. Oof.
T20 World Cup 2024 in New York: South Africa chased 78 with six wickets and 25 balls to spare. Aiden Markram’s calm leadership shone.
As of October 2025, the head-to-head stands: Tests—South Africa 18-9 (6 draws); ODIs—46-33 (2 ties/NR); T20Is—12-5 (1 tie). But with young guns like Kamindu Mendis and Tristan Stubbs emerging, expect more twists.
Head-to-Head South Africa National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline Table: At a Glance
To make sense of all this, here’s a full table of key series and standout matches. I’ve kept it simple—dates, format, result, and a fun highlight. (Note: This covers major bilateral and tournament clashes; full lists run into hundreds!)
| Year | Date | Format | Series/Event | Result | Winner | Key Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Mar 2 | ODI | World Cup | SL won by 3 wkts | Sri Lanka | Hashan Tillakaratne’s gritty 49* seals upset |
| 1993 | Aug 25-30 | Test | SA tour of SL (1st Test) | Drawn | – | Rain saves SL after Proteas’ fightback |
| 1993 | Sep 6-10 | Test | SA tour of SL (2nd Test) | SA won by inns & 208 runs | South Africa | Allan Donald’s 5/59 crushes SL |
| 1993 | Nov 20 | ODI | Tri-Series in SL | SA won by 60 runs | South Africa | Hansie Cronje’s captain’s knock of 92 |
| 1994 | Dec 3 | ODI | SL tour of SA (1st) | SL won by 68 runs | Sri Lanka | Sanath Jayasuriya’s explosive 80 |
| 1998 | Mar 19-23 | Test | SL tour of SA (1st Test) | SA won by 70 runs | South Africa | Jacques Kallis’ all-round masterclass |
| 2000 | Jul 20-23 | Test | SA tour of SL (1st Test) | SL won by inns & 15 runs | Sri Lanka | Murali’s 6/80 spins a web |
| 2000 | Aug 2 | Test | SA tour of SL (2nd Test) | SA won by 7 runs | South Africa | Epic chase thriller; Pollock’s heroics |
| 2002 | Dec 3-6 | Test | SL tour of SA | SA won by 10 wkts | South Africa | Neil McKenzie’s double ton |
| 2003 | Feb 8 | ODI | World Cup Super Six | SL won by 9 wkts | Sri Lanka | Kaluwitharana’s rapid 60 sets tone |
| 2004 | Mar 3-6 | Test | SL tour of SA | SA won by 3 wkts | South Africa | Thrilling chase; Gibbs’ 73* |
| 2006 | Jan 24 | ODI | VB Tri-Series | SL won by 33 runs (D/L) | Sri Lanka | Mahela Jayawardene’s elegant 100 |
| 2008 | Jul 23-27 | Test | SA tour of SL (1st Test) | SL won by 133 runs | Sri Lanka | Sangakkara’s 287—highest by SL vs SA |
| 2009 | Jun 18 | T20I | T20 WC Semi | SL won by 7 runs | Sri Lanka | Mathews’ calm 6* under pressure |
| 2012 | Aug 20 | ODI | SL tour of SA (1st) | SA won by 80 runs | South Africa | Hashim Amla’s fluent 150* |
| 2014 | Jul 16-20 | Test | SA tour of SL (1st Test) | Drawn | – | Karunaratne’s marathon 158* |
| 2014 | Aug 24 | ODI | SL tour of SA (5th) | SA won by 82 runs | South Africa | AB de Villiers’ blistering 149 off 44 balls |
| 2015 | Mar 29 | ODI | World Cup Pool | SL won by 133 runs | Sri Lanka | Sangakkara’s farewell-ish 104 |
| 2017 | Jan 5-8 | Test | SL tour of SA (2nd Test) | SA won by 8 wkts | South Africa | Vernon Philander’s 6/82 |
| 2018 | Jan 19 | ODI | SL tour of SA (5th) | SA won by 7 wkts | South Africa | JP Duminy’s match-winning 51* |
| 2019 | Feb 13-16 | Test | SL tour of SA (1st Test) | SA won by 8 wkts | South Africa | Theunis de Bruyn’s gritty 101 |
| 2019 | Mar 19 | ODI | SL tour of SA (5th) | SA won by 8 wkts | South Africa | 5-0 whitewash; de Kock’s 80 |
| 2019 | Mar 24 | T20I | SL tour of SA (3rd) | SA won by 10 wkts | South Africa | Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 51 |
| 2021 | Sep 4 | ODI | SA tour of SL (3rd) | SL won by 78 runs | Sri Lanka | Hasaranga’s 7/19—best ODI figs by SL |
| 2021 | Sep 10 | T20I | SA tour of SL (3rd) | SA won by 10 wkts | South Africa | Clean sweep; Miller’s power |
| 2022 | Sep 12 | ODI | SA tour of SL (3rd) | SL won by 10 wkts | Sri Lanka | 3-0 whitewash; Pathum Nissanka’s 96 |
| 2023 | Oct 7 | ODI | World Cup | SA won by 102 runs | South Africa | de Kock’s double century (double 100!) |
| 2024 | Jun 3 | T20I | T20 WC Group | SA won by 6 wkts | South Africa | Chase of 78; Markram’s steady hand |
| 2024 | Nov 27-30 | Test | SL tour of SA (1st Test) | SA won by 209 runs | South Africa | SL’s 42 all out—lowest ever Test total |
| 2024 | Dec 5-9 | Test | SL tour of SA (2nd Test) | SA won by inns & 109 runs | South Africa | Aiden Markram’s 106; series 2-0 |
(Word count note: This table summarizes 25+ key encounters; full logs available on ESPNcricinfo for die-hards.)
Iconic Players and Moments That Defined the South Africa National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline Rivalry
No timeline is complete without the stars. For South Africa, AB de Villiers’ 149 off 44 in 2014 remains the fastest ODI 100 against SL—pure genius. Jacques Kallis, the Mr. Reliable, snared 50+ wickets across formats. Modern heroes? Kagiso Rabada’s express pace and Keshav Maharaj’s sly spin.
Sri Lanka’s legends? Muralitharan’s 67 wickets vs SA in Tests alone—unmatched. Sanath Jayasuriya pioneered the pinch-hitter role, blasting boundaries. Kumar Sangakkara’s 287 in 2008? A masterclass. Today, Wanindu Hasaranga’s all-round flair and Kusal Mendis’ keeping keep the flame alive.
Moments? That 2019 Test chase, Perera’s solo act. Or SL’s 42 in 2024— a low that sparked debates on pitches and pressure.
Why This South Africa National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline Rivalry Matters Today
In 2025, with T20 leagues booming, this matchup reminds us of cricket’s soul: strategy over slam-bang. South Africa chases that elusive World Cup; Sri Lanka rebuilds post-struggles. Future tours? Expect more Tests in 2026, ODIs galore.
