With his 199, former Proteas all-format captain Faf du Plessis ended a torrid 2020 for cricket in a way that his employers should start 2021: on a high that should not be temporary.
Cricket SA (CSA) spectacularly went up in smoke last year.
While the country battled with the coronavirus, CSA imploded in the boardroom as the previous board, especially the non-independents, fought for their autonomy and, to an extent, their unearned perks.
Sports, arts and culture minister Nathi Mthethwa played the long game with them until September and October when the hitherto stubborn board was given its marching orders.
Fair share of drama
Along the way there were also resignations of former president Chris Nenzani, acting CEO Jacques Faul and the firing of his permanent predecessor Thabang Moroe.
That's more action in less than a year than what often happens in a decade.
This is just a summary of the events as the interim board, led by retired judge Zak Yacoob, has had its fair share of drama.
A lot of it had to do with the composition of the board, with the appearance of CSA former CEO Haroon Lorgat, an issue with the members council that's laden with former non-independent board members.
There was the recusal of former Eastern president Xolani Vonya and the removal of former SA Cricketers' Association president Omphile Ramela.
Those dramas aside, CSA released the hitherto secret Fundudzi forensic report from which they acted on by suspending company secretary Welsh Gwaza and acting CEO Kugandrie Govender.
They've also acted with a reasonable degree of transparency that's put their predecessors to shame.
Since that bar has been set that high, now it is a case of ensuring that level of consistency is maintained throughout the year in the clean-up of the organisation.
The disciplinary cases against Gwaza and Govender will have to be done cleanly and by the book to avoid the slew of legal actions that CSA is facing from its former employees.
Dirty governance was at the heart of CSA's administrative malfeasance and the interim board, clearly a better-equipped and skilled unit as compared to the motley crew led by Nenzani, does have the skill and the willingness to leave no stone unturneMore importantly, their groundwork will lay the foundation of the constitution of the new board that for all intents and purposes must abide by the 2012 Nicholson report recommendations of being stacked with nine independents and three office-bearers.
This particular move eight years ago was partially blocked by the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc). They wanted the game to be run by cricket people, but as the years unfolded it became clear their generosity was well and truly misplaced.
The very same Sascoc, who were asked by the sports ministry to intervene, were given the middle finger by CSA.
That effectively left Sascoc to be a spectator in a game where they should have been participants.
Many forces at play
CSA has moved past this mini tug-of-war and the appointment of the board along the Nicholson report guidelines should also lead to the appointment of competent, capable and, crucially, clean office-bearers with no private agendas.
It's been written that cricket has been captured, and indeed it has, but there have been many forces at play with their own ends in sight.
This is probably the biggest fight the independent board and the interim structure needs to deal with.
The ridding of unsavoury elements that are pulling the game apart is paramount before the game can be taken forward.
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