- South Africa whitewashed Australia before apartheid took over
- Last Test of Fanie De Villiers for South Africa
- Sri Lankans became the Asian Test Champions
- India beat West Indies in the first Test on the 25th attempt
1970: South Africa’s last Test series before Apartheid
10th March is the end of South Africa’s last Test match against Australia. After this, cricket in the country was halted for 22 years due to apartheid. But this last match is one which Australia will remember for a long time since they got harsh whitewashed with the Proteas showing complete dominance in all four games. The 4-0 win included the hosts winning with 170 runs, an inning and 129 runs, 307 runs and finally 323 runs.
1998: Fanie De Villiers play the last Test of Career
Fanie De Villiers is one of the finest bowlers to come out to play for South Africa, ended his Test career on a high against Pakistan on his own home soil in Port Elizabeth. His short but mighty Test career comprises 18 Tests and 84 wickets averaging at 24. In the last match, he brought out his best form. He devastated the Pakistan side with 6 for 23 runs and bagged two more in the second inning.
2002: Sri Lanka crowned Asian Test Champions
On this day, 20 years ago, Sri Lanka became the Asian Test Champions after beating Pakistan with eight wickets in Lahore. Kumar Sangakkara, who was playing his 20th Test match, scored a double ton to give his side a massive 294 first inning win. Despite a better performance from the hosts in the second inning, the opposition was just left with 32 runs to win. The only positive for Pakistan from this match was Muhammad Sami’s hat-trick to dismiss the last three Sri Lankan batsmen.
1971: India won against West Indies in the first Test in 25th Attempt
India tour of West Indies March 1971 was a significant one for the men in blue. They won the first Test match against the hosts in their 25th attempt. A hundred bu Dilip Sardesai and half-centuries by Gavaskar and Solkar gave India the lead of 138 runs despite a 9-95 by the Caribbean offspinner Jack Noreiga. In the end, India won with one day to spare.
Birthdays
Barto Bartlett (West Indies, 1906)
Nisal Fernando (Sri Lanka, 1970)
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Santhakumaran Sreesanth: Good-Bye to cricket
