The South Africa National Cricket Team Vs West Indies Cricket Team Stats showcase one of international cricket’s most exciting rivalries across Test matches, One Day Internationals, and T20 Internationals. Both teams have produced legendary cricketers, unforgettable contests, and record-breaking performances over several decades. South Africa’s disciplined pace attack has often challenged the explosive batting style of the West Indies, creating thrilling battles in every format. This complete statistical guide covers head to head records, format-wise results, highest and lowest team totals, top run scorers, leading wicket takers, venue records, biggest victories, closest finishes, and other notable achievements to help fans understand this historic cricket rivalry.
Head-to-Head Record
Format
Matches
South Africa Won
West Indies Won
Draw/No Result
Tests
32
22
3
7
ODIs
64
45
16
3
T20Is
30
15
15
0
Overall
126
82
34
10
South Africa have dominated the rivalry since their return to international cricket in 1992. The Proteas hold a commanding advantage in Tests and ODIs, while the T20I rivalry has become one of the most evenly matched contests in world cricket.
Overall Match Statistics
Statistic
South Africa
West Indies
Overall Wins
82
34
Test Wins
22
3
ODI Wins
45
16
T20I Wins
15
15
Draws/No Results
10
10
T20I Stats
Category
South Africa
West Indies
Matches
30
30
Wins
15
15
Win Percentage
50%
50%
Highest Score
259/4
258/5
Lowest Score
108
81
The shortest format has produced one of cricket’s closest rivalries, with both teams winning an equal number of matches.
Home vs Away Record
Venue
South Africa
West Indies
In South Africa
South Africa dominate across formats
Limited victories
In West Indies
South Africa hold the advantage
Better success than away
Neutral Venues
South Africa lead overall
Several ICC wins
Venue-wise Performance
Venue
Matches
Most Successful Team
Centurion
Multiple
South Africa
Johannesburg
Multiple
South Africa
Cape Town
Multiple
South Africa
Bridgetown
Multiple
West Indies
Kingston
Multiple
South Africa
Port of Spain
Multiple
South Africa
Highest Team Scores
Team
Score
Format
Venue
South Africa
439/2
ODI
Johannesburg
West Indies
389/9
ODI
Johannesburg
South Africa
259/4
T20I
Centurion
West Indies
258/5
T20I
Centurion
The famous Centurion T20I in 2023 featured both teams scoring over 250, producing one of the highest-scoring T20 Internationals ever played.
Lowest Team Scores
Team
Score
Format
West Indies
81
T20I
South Africa
108
T20I
West Indies
80
ODI
South Africa
89
ODI
Most Runs
Player
Team
Runs*
Jacques Kallis
South Africa
2,000+
AB de Villiers
South Africa
1,700+
Brian Lara
West Indies
1,600+
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
West Indies
1,500+
Hashim Amla
South Africa
1,400+
*Across international formats.
Most Wickets
Player
Team
Wickets*
Shaun Pollock
South Africa
70+
Dale Steyn
South Africa
60+
Makhaya Ntini
South Africa
50+
Courtney Walsh
West Indies
45+
Curtly Ambrose
West Indies
40+
*Across all international formats.
Best Batting Performances
Player
Team
Performance
Brian Lara
West Indies
Double century in Test cricket
Jacques Kallis
South Africa
Match-winning Test double hundred
AB de Villiers
South Africa
Explosive ODI century
Quinton de Kock
South Africa
Multiple ODI hundreds
Chris Gayle
West Indies
Powerful T20I century
Best Bowling Performances
Player
Team
Figures
Dale Steyn
South Africa
7 wickets in a Test innings
Shaun Pollock
South Africa
Outstanding ODI spell
Curtly Ambrose
West Indies
Devastating Test bowling
Courtney Walsh
West Indies
Match-winning Test figures
Kagiso Rabada
South Africa
Multiple five-wicket hauls
Biggest Wins
Winner
Margin
Format
South Africa
Innings victory
Test
South Africa
159 runs
ODI
West Indies
128 runs
ODI
South Africa
9 wickets
T20I
Closest Matches
Match
Result
T20I at Centurion
South Africa won by 1 run
ODI at Johannesburg
South Africa won by 1 wicket
T20 World Cup Match
South Africa won by narrow margin
Bilateral ODI
West Indies won by 2 wickets
ICC Tournament Record
Tournament
Matches
South Africa Won
West Indies Won
Cricket World Cup
9
7
2
ICC Champions Trophy
3
2
1
ICC T20 World Cup
8
5
3
Overall ICC Events
20
14
6
South Africa have generally enjoyed greater success against the West Indies in ICC tournaments, especially in ODI World Cups. However, the Caribbean side has produced memorable victories in global T20 competitions.
Final Thoughts
The South Africa and West Indies rivalry continues to entertain cricket fans with its unique blend of aggressive batting, world-class fast bowling, and memorable finishes. While South Africa has generally enjoyed greater consistency across formats, the West Indies have repeatedly shown their ability to produce stunning upsets and unforgettable individual performances. Every new series adds fresh records and exciting moments to this historic contest. Whether you are comparing head to head numbers, player achievements, or recent performances, these statistics provide a complete picture of how the rivalry has evolved and why South Africa versus West Indies remains one of international cricket’s most compelling matchups.
FAQs
1. Which team has won more matches between South Africa and West Indies? Overall, South Africa has won more matches than the West Indies across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
2. Who has scored the most runs in South Africa vs West Indies matches? Several legendary batters have dominated this rivalry. The exact leader depends on the format and updated career records.
3. Which bowler has taken the most wickets in this rivalry? Both teams have featured legendary fast bowlers, with several players ranking among the all time leading wicket takers in these encounters.
4. What is the highest team score in South Africa vs West Indies matches? The highest team total varies by format and is one of the standout records covered in the full statistics.
5. Why is the South Africa vs West Indies rivalry considered special? The rivalry combines powerful batting, world-class pace bowling, historic Test battles, and thrilling limited-overs matches, making it one of cricket’s most entertaining international contests.
