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Cape Town - The Proteas won the second Test against the Sri Lankans emphatically by 282 runs to not only win the Newlands Test in four days but to also clinch the series.
However, despite the resounding victory, the victory was somewhat tarnished by Kyle Abbott and Rilee Roussouw's decisions to leave South Africa and sign Kolpak deals with English country side Hampshire.
READ: Twitter reacts to Abbott, Rossouw's Kolpak signings
After the Test, Proteas coach Russell Domingo and Cricket South Africa president Haroon Lorgat addressed the media and were asked multiple questions over the duo's departure.
Domingo joked about the situation on Thursday, saying: "Guys, in case you've forgotten we won a Test match."
The Proteas started the New Year with a bang and will look to keep this winning momentum for what will be a jam-packed 2017/18 season with a tour to New Zealand, England, the Champions Trophy and home series against Bangladesh and India.
Here are some of the achievements and milestones that took place at the Newlands Test match:
• Prior to the start of the Test, Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar became the most experienced umpire in international cricket and stood in 332 international matches. He surpassed former South African umpire Rudi Koertzen, who had stood in 331 internationals.
• Standing alongside Dar in the middle was Australian umpire Rod Tucker, who officiated in his 50th Test as an on-field umpire.
• Stephen Cook became the first batsman to depart in international cricket in 2017 - when he departed for a duck.
• Suranga Lakmal became the first bowler to take an international wicket in 2017 - when he dismissed Cook.
• Quinton de Kock brought up 1 000 Test runs in 23 innings. He is the joint fifth-fastest South Africa batsmen to the milestone, levelling Graeme Smith, AB de Villiers, Eddie Barlow, Graeme Pollock and Faf Du Plessis.
• Kagiso Rabada reached a significant milestone, when Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratni became the fast bowler's 50th victim in Test cricket in 13 matches.
• Vernon Philander reached 150 Test wickets in just 39 matches.
• Rangana Herath overtook Chaminda Vaas to become Sri Lanka's second highest wicket-taker in Tests. The No 3- ranked Test bowler surpassed Vaas' 355 tally and achieved the milestone in 77 Tests.
• Lahiru Kumara is the second-youngest Sri Lankan bowler to get a five-wicket haul behind Ravindra Pushpakumara. Kumara, 19, took six for 122 in the first innings, followed by one for 62 in the second.
• There were seven wicketkeeper catches in South Africa's first innings, which is technically a new Sri Lankan record. Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal shared the gloves, with Mendis taking three and Chandimal claiming four.
The Proteas will take on Sri Lanka in the third and final Test match at the Wanderers on Thursday, January 12.
