South Africa’s batting prowess in the ICC Champions Trophy is vividly illustrated by the performances of their openers, who have delivered match-defining centuries in this prestigious ODI tournament. Spanning from 2002 to the ongoing Champions Trophy in 2025, six standout centuries by Hashim Amla, Herschelle Gibbs, Ryan Rickelton, and Graeme Smith, showcasing their ability to dominate at the top of the order.
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| Image Credits: India Today |
Herschelle Gibbs leads the pack with three centuries, underlining his flair and consistency as a South African opener in the Champions Trophy tournament. His 116 off 126 balls against Kenya in Colombo (2002) set the tone, followed by an unbeaten 116* against India at the same venue days later, boasting a strike rate of 97.47. Gibbs’ third ton, a 101 against West Indies at The Oval (2004), further cemented his reputation as a big-match player.
Graeme Smith’s 141 off 134 balls against England in Centurion (2009) stands out as the highest score on this list, his 16 fours driving a commanding strike rate of 105.22. Also this is the highest score for a South African opener in the Champions Trophy tournament.
Hashim Amla’s scored an elegant 103 off 115 balls against Sri Lanka at The Oval (2017) showcased his technical mastery, with a strike rate of 89.56 reflecting controlled aggression entering into this list.
Emerging talent Ryan Rickelton joined this elite group on Friday (Feb 21) with 103 off 106 balls against Afghanistan in Karachi in the ongoing Champions Trophy in Pakistan, signaling a bright future with a 97.16 strike rate.
These innings, averaging over 100 runs and strike rates nearing or exceeding 90, demonstrate South Africa’s reliance on their openers to set imposing platforms. From Gibbs’ explosiveness to Smith’s dominance and Amla's calmness to Rickelton’s promise, the Proteas’ top order has consistently risen to the Champions Trophy challenge over the years.
