Birthday special: Andre Nel – Top performances in international cricket

One of the most controversial figures in the game, Andre Nel was known for his antics on and off the field. The tall protean fast bowler intimidated batters with his muscular figure and a mouthful of words after every delivery. Nel scalped more than 250 wickets in international cricket for South Africa, and on the occasion of his 46th birthday, we look at some of his best bowling performances for the Proteas.

4/13 against India, 2006

After the series opener of the five-match ODI series was abandoned due to rain between India and South Africa, Durban was the venue for their second meeting. South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first on a lively surface at Kingsmead. The hosts posted a respectable total of 248 on the board in their 50 overs on the back of an unbeaten century from Jacques Kallis. India had a rocky start to their chase after losing opener Wasim Jaffer for a duck. But it was the dismissal of their star batter Sachin Tendulkar that derailed their chase as Andre Nel ran through the Indian middle order. He finished with an impressive figure of 4/13 in his eight overs as India bundled out for just 91 runs.

6/81 against England, 2005

South Africa welcomed England for the fifth and final Test of the series against England in Centurion. The visitors were leading the series 2-1. The hosts were put in to bat first after England won the toss and managed to score 247 in their first innings. England in their reply lost three of their top-order batters at the score of 29, but a riposte from the middle-order saw them take a healthy lead after putting a score of 359. Nel was the only South African bowler who impressed in the second innings as he grabbed six English wickets. The match fizzled out in a draw as England took home the series 2-1.

6/32 against West Indies, 2005

After winning the second Test, South Africa travelled to Barbados in hopes of sealing the four-match Test series against the West Indies. The hosts batted first after winning the toss and posted 297 on the board, thanks to Brian Lara’s scintillating 176. Nel was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets to his name. South Africa posted a massive total of 548 in their reply on the back of twin centuries from Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers. South Africa completed a resounding victory by an innings and 86 runs as Nel routed West Indies with his six-wicket haul to dismiss them for 116 runs. The Protean was adjudged the player of the match as he finished with 10 wickets to his name.