Temba Bavuma scripted history during South Africa’s second ODI against Australia at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. The South African captain scored a century to become the oldest Proteas captain to hit an ODI hundred. Bavuma reached the milestone in 112 balls as South Africa faced Australia in the second match of the three-game series.
Bavuma was 36 years and 133 days old on Sunday when he smashed a ton against Australia.
Bavuma Breaks Faf du Plessis’ Record
Before Bavuma, the record belonged to former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis. Du Plessis was 34 years and 358 days old when he scored 100 off 94 balls against Australia at Old Trafford in Manchester on July 6, 2019.
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Bavuma has now moved past his former teammate to claim the record for South Africa. The century was also Bavuma’s second ODI hundred against Australia. Only du Plessis, with three centuries, has scored more ODI hundreds as South Africa captain against the Aussies.
Oldest captains to smash a ODI century for South Africa
| PLAYER | RUNS | BALLS | 4s | 6s | AGE | AGAINST | VENUE | DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temba Bavuma | 103 | 116 | 10 | 2 | 36 years, 133 days | Australia | Johannesburg | September 27, 2026 |
| Faf du Plessis | 100 | 94 | 7 | 2 | 34 years, 358 days | Australia | Manchester | July 6, 2019 |
| Faf du Plessis | 112* | 114 | 15 | 1 | 34 years, 233 days | Sri Lanka | Johannesburg | March 3, 2019 |
| Jacques Kallis | 104* | 94 | 5 | 3 | 34 years, 134 days | India | Ahmedabad | February 27, 2010 |
| Faf du Plessis | 125 | 114 | 15 | 2 | 34 years, 121 days | Australia | Hobart | November 11, 2018 |
Khurram Khan Holds Overall Record
| Player | COUNTRY | RUNS | BALLS | 4s | 6s | AGE | AGAINST | VENUE | DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khurram Khan | UAE | 132* | 138 | 17 | 1 | 43y 162d | Afghanistan | ICCA Dubai | 30 Nov 2014 |
| Richie Berrington | Scotland | 120 | 103 | 15 | 4 | 39y 132d | Canada | Dundee | 13 Aug 2026 |
| Richie Berrington | Scotland | 102 | 114 | 6 | 4 | 38y 66d | Nepal | Dundee | 8 Jun 2025 |
| Kyle Coetzer | Scotland | 108* | 142 | 16 | 0 | 38y 47d | UAE | Pearland | 31 May 2022 |
| Richie Berrington | Scotland | 105 | 86 | 5 | 5 | 38y 43d | Netherlands | Utrecht | 16 May 2025 |
| Craig Ervine | Zimbabwe | 121* | 128 | 15 | 1 | 37y 303d | Nepal | Harare | 18 Jun 2023 |
| Rohit Sharma | India | 119 | 90 | 12 | 7 | 37y 285d | England | Cuttack | 9 Feb 2025 |
| Gordon Greenidge | West Indies | 102* | 154 | 5 | 0 | 37y 170d | Pakistan | Sharjah | 18 Oct 1988 |
| Steve Tikolo | Kenya | 102 | 99 | 12 | 2 | 37y 116d | Zimbabwe | Nairobi (Gym) | 19 Oct 2008 |
| Jatinder Singh | Oman | 130 | 96 | 15 | 5 | 37y 55d | Nepal | Kirtipur | 29 Apr 2026 |
Bavuma’s achievement puts him among the oldest captains to score an ODI century, but the overall record belongs to former UAE captain Khurram Khan.
Khurram was 43 years and 162 days old when he smashed an unbeaten 132 against Afghanistan in Dubai on November 30, 2014.
Among players from Full Member nations, Zimbabwe’s Craig Ervine holds the record. Ervine was 37 years and 303 days old when he scored an unbeaten 121 against Nepal in Harare on June 18, 2023.