South Africa vs Canada Head to Head Record in All Formats

South Africa and Canada have rarely crossed paths in international cricket, making their head-to-head record a unique and lesser-known chapter of the game. The two teams have faced each other only on limited occasions, with no regular rivalry across formats. 

As a full-member nation, South Africa brings years of international experience and success in ICC tournaments, while Canada represents an emerging cricket nation aiming to make an impact on the global stage. 

This article takes a detailed look at the South Africa vs Canada head-to-head record across all formats, highlighting past meetings, key statistics, and what the numbers reveal about this uncommon matchup.

Key Records in South Africa vs Canada Matches

Despite meeting only a handful of times in international cricket, the South Africa vs Canada matchup has produced a few notable records, mainly from their lone ODI encounter and the significance of their limited rivalry.

Overall Match Records

• Total International Matches Played: 1
  
• South Africa Wins: 1
  
• Canada Wins: 0
  
• Tied / No Result: 0

Batting Records

• Highest Team Total:
  
  • South Africa – 254/8 (ODI, 2003 World Cup)
    
• Lowest Team Total:
  
  • Canada – 136/5 (ODI, 2003 World Cup)
    
• Highest Individual Score:
  
  • Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa) – 71 runs (ODI)
    
• Highest Individual Score for Canada:
  
  • Ian Billcliff (Canada) – 53* (ODI)
    

Bowling Records

• Best Bowling Figures:
  
  • Shaun Pollock (South Africa) – 2 wickets for 16 runs (ODI)
    
• Most Wickets in SA vs CAN Matches:
  
  • Shaun Pollock – 2 wickets

Match Result Record

• Biggest Win (by Runs):
  
  • South Africa won by 118 runs (ODI, 2003)

Format-Based Records

• ODI Matches: 1
  
  • South Africa unbeaten (1–0)
    
• T20I Matches: 0
  
  • No head-to-head record yet
    
• Test Matches: 0
  
  • Canada does not have Test status

South Africa vs Canada Head to Head in T20I Cricket

Format	Matches Played	South Africa Won	Canada Won	Tied	No Result
T20Is	0	0	0	0	0

South Africa and Canada have never played a men’s T20 International against each other before. This makes their scheduled clash in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 their first ever meeting in this format.

First Scheduled T20I Meeting

• Match: South Africa vs Canada
  
• Tournament: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Group Stage
  
• Date: 9 February 2026
  
• Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India
  
• Status: First ever T20I between the two teams

South Africa vs Canada Head to Head in ODI Cricket

Format	Matches Played	South Africa Won	Canada Won	Tied	No Result
ODIs	1	1	0	0	0

South Africa and Canada have played only one official One Day International match against each other in men’s cricket. In that match, South Africa won, and Canada did not register a victory.

Match Details: South Africa vs Canada – ODI

Event: ICC Cricket World Cup
Date: 27 February 2003
Venue: Buffalo Park, East London (South Africa)
Result: South Africa won by 118 runs

In this match, South Africa scored a strong total of 254/8 in their 50 overs, and Canada were restricted to 136/5, giving South Africa a convincing victory by 118 runs. 

Overall South Africa vs Canada Head to Head in Test Summary

Format	Matches Played	South Africa Won	Canada Won	Drawn	Tied
Tests	0	0	0	0	0

South Africa and Canada have never faced each other in Test cricket. In fact, Canada does not hold Test status in international cricket, which makes a Test-format encounter between the two sides impossible under current ICC regulations. 

As a result, the overall South Africa vs Canada head-to-head record in Tests stands at zero matches played, with no wins, losses, or drawn games for either team. Their limited rivalry has been confined to white-ball formats only, most notably a single ODI meeting during the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

Final Words

The South Africa vs Canada head-to-head record may be limited in numbers, but it carries its own historical significance. With just one official ODI meeting in 2003 and no previous encounters in Test or T20I cricket, this matchup remains one of the rarest in international cricket. South Africa’s dominance in their lone ODI clash highlights the gap in experience between the two sides, while Canada’s steady growth as an associate nation reflects the expanding global reach of the game.

As future ICC tournaments and T20 World Cup fixtures bring these teams closer, the South Africa vs Canada rivalry has the potential to add new chapters and fresh records. For now, the statistics clearly favor South Africa, but cricket has always been a sport where new stories can be written on any given day. Fans will be eager to see how this uncommon matchup evolves in the years to come.