GRAEME SMITH and Loots Bosman pulverised the Pro20 International record books with a stunning display of power hitting at SuperSport Park on Sunday afternoon.

It laid the foundation for the Proteas’ 84-runs victory that squared the Standard Bank International Pro20 series with England at 1-1.

By the time Smith and Bosman had finished after the former had won the toss, they had posted an opening partnership of170 in just 13 overs. This far exceeded the previous first wicket partnership record of 145 established by Chris Gayle and Devon Smith at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium two seasons ago and was unsurprisingly a record for any wicket as well.

They also contributed 15 of the 17 sixes struck by the Proteas which was also a record. The previous record stood at 14.

The South African total of 241/6 was also a record for the Proteas, beating the 211 they managed against Scotland at the ICC World Twenty20 at The Oval earlier this year.

It was the second highest total ever and the highest in a match between two ICC Full Member nations. Sri Lanka managed 260/6 against Kenya at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium two seasons ago.

Bosman’s final total of 94 (45 balls, 5 fours and 9 sixes) was also a South African record, beating the 90 not out that Herschelle Gibbs managed against the West Indies two seasons ago. Had he hit his last delivery for six instead of being caught on the boundary, he would have become the second cricketer after Gayle to score a century in a Pro20 International.

He nevertheless did enough to be named Standard Bank Master Blaster and, had there been a player of the series, he would undoubtedly have got that as well, following his half-century at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Friday night.

It represented a stunning comeback for a player who has had to overcome a succession of serious injuries over the last two years and he has unquestionably booked his ticket for next year’s ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies. He took a nasty blow on the foot while batting which prevented him from fielding but a precautionary X-ray revealed no more than severe bruising.

In normal circumstances Smith’s 88 (44 balls, 8 fours and 6 sixes) would have been a match-winning effort in its own right but on this occasion he had to give second best to his partner.

Remarkably the Proteas only scored 14 runs in the first three overs before Smith and Bosman let rip. “We had to assess the pace of the pitch and adapt accordingly,” commented Bosman. “It also helped that we were attacking England from both ends because it meant that we were not playing under so much pressure.”

The Proteas also produced their best bowling performance for some time, a point that was quickly acknowledged by Smith. The bowlers complemented each other well and Smith did not have to look for a sixth bowling option.

There were only 6 sixes in the England innings and by the halfway stage they were already needing 17 runs to the over. Particularly pleasing has been the way that the players called up from domestic franchise cricket have performed so convincingly. These include the likes of Bosman, Ryan McLaren, Heino Kuhn, Yusuf Abdulla and Alviro Petersen.

This suggests that the Proteas are building good depth as well as keen competition for places.

The action now switches to the five-match MTN ODI series which starts at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Friday.