South Africa seemed set to lose Cape Town Test of November 2011. After Michael Clarke’s superb 151 had taken Australia to 284, Ryan Harris (4-33) and Shane Watson (5-17) had rolled over South Africa for a paltry 96. Yet, less than two hours later, Dale Steyn (2-23), a debutant Vernon Philander (5-15), and Morne Morkel (3-9) had shot out Australia for 47 in 18 overs – the lowest score by any side against South Africa.

The trio shared all 20 wickets in the Test match (Steyn 6-78, Philander 8-78, Morkel 6-91) and South Africa won by eight wickets. Thirteen and a half months later, South Africa hosted New Zealand at the same venue.

New Zealand opted to bat. At lunch, the score read 3-1 – South Africa’s, that is. New Zealand’s innings had lasted eight balls longer than Australia’s, but they had scored two runs fewer, thus setting a new record for the lowest score against South Africa.

Philander took the first five wickets, with his first 25 balls. New Zealand had managed only 27, of which Kane Williamson had made 13. By then, Morkel had already replaced Steyn at the other end. Philander finally got a break after a spell of 6-3-7-5, only to be replaced by Steyn. Steyn (2-18) and Morkel (3-18) rounded things off in no time. Only Daniel Flynn resisted for 72 minutes until he was the last to be dismissed.

After South Africa declared on 347-8, New Zealand did better. They made 275 with Dean Brownlie getting a hundred. The troika shared six wickets, while Jacques Kallis took 2-31.

A month later, Philander (2-16), Steyn (6-8), and Kallis (2-11) bowled out Pakistan for 49 in Johannesburg. These remain the only team totals below 50 against South Africa in Test cricket – all against pace, all at home, all in a 15-month period.

Watch South Africa bowl out New Zealand for 45 here:

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