Sourav Ganguly's 10 best knocks in international cricket

#3 141* vs South Africa, Nairobi, ICC KnockOut 2000, October 13, 2000

Ganguly scored a magnificent hundred against SA in the ICC KnockOut Trophy 2000 semi-final

It was the second edition of the ICC Knock Out (to be later known as the ICC Champions Trophy) and India were already in the semi-final thanks to some brilliant all-round cricket displayed by the Indian cricketers, especially by Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virender Sehwag. The penultimate hurdle, however, was a tough one, as a South African side comprising the likes of Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener and Alan Donald waited to greet the Indians. It was then that Ganguly, now the captain of the side, decided to step up and take control into his own hands.

After winning the toss and batting first, the then Indian captain led from the front by scoring a magnificent century opening the innings and guided India to a challenging total of 295/6 from their 50 overs. His unbeaten knock of 141 was studded with 11 fours and 6 sixes and took to the cleaners an attack that had Pollock, Donald, Klusener and Nicky Boje in it. The captain was helped along by Rahul Dravid (who else?) yet again, who made 58 batting at No. 3, and by Yuvraj Singh, who had made his debut earlier in the tournament, and who finished with a 35-ball 41 towards the death. In reply, the Proteas were bowled out for 200, thus gifting India the victory and clearing their path to the final of the tournament.