South Africa’s 615 joins the 5 highest Test totals at Newlands

Newlands in Cape Town is an iconic venue for Test match cricket.

It has produced some hefty team totals over the years.

Here, we recollect the highest totals in Test cricket at Newlands.

1. 651 all out by South Africa

The Proteas almost tripled Australia’s first-innings total of 209 all out at Newlands in Cape Town in 2009. Ashwell Prince and AB de Villiers put in scores of 150 or more and AB de Villiers hit 102.

Four Australian bowlers, including Player of the Series Mitchell Johnson, conceded 100 runs or more. Spinner Paul Harris took nine wickets in this fixture. The hosts won the match, but Australia had won the series.

2. 629/6 declared by England

In 2016, England put South Africa to the sword. That man Ben Stokes was at his brilliant best en route to a double-century and enjoyed significant support from Jonny Bairstow’s unbeaten 150. The match ended in a draw.

“Everything went my way, it hasn’t quite sunk in yet. We had a lot of runs, I thought we were in a good position, so just tried to chance my arm and thought we were in a good position anyway,” said Stokes at the time.

Also read: 9 highest individual Test scores for South Africa

3. 627/7 declared by South Africa

In a really high-scoring affair, South Africa responded to England‘s 629 for six declared in 2016 with a total a mere two runs fewer. Hashim Amla hit a double-ton and Temba Bavuma a ton. Faf du Plessis and de Villiers put in 80s.

Amla resigned the Proteas Test captaincy after the match. De Villiers took over the captaincy from Amla for the rest of the series.

4. 620/7 declared by South Africa

Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs put on 368 for the first wicket against Pakistan at Newlands in Cape Town in 2003. Gibbs ended with 228 and Smith 151. South Africa won the match and the series. Gibbs was named Player of the Series.

5. 615 all out by South Africa

A double-century from Ryan Rickelton and centuries from Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne against Pakistan at Newlands in Cape Town in early 2025 pushed this score into the top five team totals at Newlands in Test cricket.

This was the first time Rickelton had opened the batting in Test match cricket. The match was also fast bowler Kwena Maphaka’s first in Test competition.

The previous Test at Newlands – South Africa against India in early 2024 – had ended inside two days.

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