South Africa is one of the most talented and consistent teams in the history of cricket, but they have also been plagued by a series of heartbreaking defeats in the World Cup that have earned them the unwanted tag of chokers. Here are five of the most memorable losses that shattered their dreams of lifting the coveted trophy:
1992: The rain rule fiasco
England won the toss and elected to bat first in the second semi-final of the 1992 World Cup at Sydney. They scored 252 for 6 in their allotted 45 overs, with Graeme Hick playing a crucial knock of 83 runs off 90 balls. He was well supported by Neil Fairbrother, who made 62 not out off 70 balls.
South Africa, who were playing their first World Cup, had a revised target of 253 runs in 43 overs due to rain interruptions. They started well, with Andrew Hudson and Kepler Wessels putting on 68 runs for the first wicket. However, they lost wickets at regular intervals and were reduced to 175 for 5 in the 35th over.However, rain stopped play again after the first ball of the 43rd over, which was a dot ball. When play resumed, a controversial rain rule had changed their target to 22 runs off one ball, which was impossible to achieve. South Africa were left stunned and England advanced to the final by virtue of a 19-run victory.The match is remembered as one of the most dramatic and unfair endings in World Cup history, as South Africa were denied a chance to compete for the trophy due to a faulty rain rule.
1999: The greatest tie ever
Australia batted first and scored 213 all out in 49.2 overs, with Michael Bevan making 65 and Shaun Pollock taking five wickets.South Africa needed 214 to win, but rain reduced their target to 213 in 49 overs. They were 175 for 8, but Lance Klusener, who was the player of the tournament, hit two fours in the last over to bring the equation down to one run off four balls.However, a mix-up between Klusener and Allan Donald resulted in a run out and the match ended in a tie. Australia qualified for the final on the basis of a superior net run rate in the Super Six stage.The match is regarded as one of the greatest and most thrilling matches in World Cup history, as both teams fought till the end and showed great courage and skill.
2003: The miscalculation blunder
Sri Lanka batted first and scored 268 for 9 in 50 overs, with Marvan Atapattu making 124 and Aravinda de Silva making 73. Jacques Kallis took three wickets for South Africa.South Africa had a revised target of 230 in 45 overs due to rain. They were 229 for 6 in 45 overs, with Herschelle Gibbs making 73 and Mark Boucher making 45 not out. The match ended in a tie as per the Duckworth-Lewis method.South Africa were eliminated from the tournament as they needed to win the match to qualify for the Super Six stage. Sri Lanka advanced to the semi-finals as they had more points than South Africa in the group stage.The match was a dramatic and tragic end to South Africa’s hopes of winning the World Cup at home. They had miscalculated their target and thought they had won when they reached 229. They celebrated prematurely and did not realize that they needed one more run to win.
2007: The World Cup semis vs Australia
Australia won by seven wickets with 111 balls remaining and advanced to their fourth consecutive final.South Africa were bowled out for 149 in 43.5 overs after electing to bat first. They lost their top five batsmen for 27 runs in 9.5 overs.
Herschelle Gibbs top-scored with 39, while Justin Kemp remained unbeaten on 49. Shaun Tait took four wickets for 39 runs, while Glenn McGrath took three for 18 and was named the player of the match.Australia chased down the target in 31.3 overs, losing only three wickets. Michael Clarke scored an unbeaten 60, while Matthew Hayden made 41. Andrew Symonds hit the winning boundary off Andrew Hall. Australia dominated them throughout the match and exposed their batting frailties
2015: The de Villiers heartbreak
South Africa scored 281 for 5 in 43 overs after rain interrupted their innings. Faf du Plessis made 82, AB de Villiers 65 not out, and David Miller 49 off 18 balls. Corey Anderson took three wickets for 72 runs for New Zealand.New Zealand won by four wickets in a thrilling finish, chasing a revised target of 298 in 43 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis method. They needed 12 runs off the last over, and Grant Elliott hit Dale Steyn for a six off the penultimate ball to seal the victory.The impact of the match was significant for both teams and their fans. New Zealand qualified for their first World Cup final, where they faced Australia at Melbourne. They lost the final by seven wickets, but they won the hearts of many cricket lovers with their spirited performance throughout the tournament. South Africa suffered another heartbreak in a World Cup knockout match, adding to their reputation of being chokers. They were consoled by New Zealand players and fans after the match, showing a great spirit of sportsmanship.De Villiers was inconsolable as he watched his team lose another World Cup knockout match.
These are some of the losses that have haunted South Africa in their quest for glory in the World Cup. They have shown great skill and spirit in every edition, but have also faltered at crucial moments. They will hope to overcome their past demons and finally win their maiden World Cup title in 2023.
