The South African cricket team is called the ‘Proteas’ – a nickname which they derive from the flower on their team emblem. But the moment the focus shifts to the World Cup, the term ‘Proteas’ gets replaced with the dreaded ‘chokers’ tag.
And why not? If the Australian team has overachieved consistently at the World Cup, the South Africans have consistently faltered (read: choked).
South Africa have always fielded a world-class side with world-beaters at their disposal. Cricket pundits hailing them as favourites has been a pre-World Cup ritual. Yet, after seven World Cup appearances, South Africa failing to emerge victorious might be the Bermuda Triangle of world cricket.
South Africa have never been able to go past the semi-final stage at any edition of the tournament, and every time they have come up with new ways and methods to ‘choke’ at the global stage. Since the 1992 World Cup, their maiden appearance, the South African side has played four semi-finals.
1992 World Cup: Semi-final vs England
South Africa were playing there first World Cup after returning to international cricket. It had been less than a year, yet the South Africans, led by Kepler Wessels, qualified for the semi-finals, where they were facing the English side. Chasing 252, South Africa needed 22 runs of 13 balls when the umpires decided to take a rain-break.
The series of events that transpired after the rain break still continues to be one of the most ridiculous incidents in sports history. Since the game couldn’t be extended further, the umpires cut short the balls left from 13 to one, and according to the prevalent ‘rain-rule’, South Africa – bafflingly – were left needing an inconceivable 22 runs off one ball.
The scoreboard displaying the equation at the Sydney Cricket Ground still continues to be one of the iconic images from the 1992 World Cup, and world cricket in general.
In the end, Brian McMillan who was facing the final ball, just blocked it and walked off. This was the only instance where South Africa couldn’t blame themselves. This also set the ball rolling as far as semi-final horrors were concerned for South Africa.
1999 World Cup: Semi-Final vs Australia
Coming into the tournament, South Africa were dubbed the favourites. The Proteas, led by Hansie Cronje, lived up to their billing and were looking good for a maiden World Cup triumph.
It was only in the last match of the Super Sixes that South Africa’s fortunes took a turn for the worse. Chasing 271 for a place in the semis, Australia were reeling at 48/3. Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting were in the middle of a rescue act when Waugh flicked a Lance Klusener delivery to Herschelle Gibbs at mid-wicket.
After taking it comfortably, Gibbs dropped the ball as he celebrated prematurely. The urban legend is that Waugh went up to Gibbs and said, “Son, you have just dropped the World Cup.” But the then-Australian skipper has since clarified that he said, “I hope you realise that you've just lost the game for your team”.
Waugh, then on 56, went on to score an unbeaten 120, and took Australia through to the semis with a win.
The result meant the two teams would meet again in the semi-final, where the Proteas eyed revenge.
They were on the money in the first half, dismissing the Australians for 213, and looked favourites for a berth in the final through the run-chase, despite losing wickets.
The last over began with nine runs required and only one wicket in hand, but Klusener – who could do no wrong at the 1999 World Cup, and was eventually named Player of the Tournament – was at the crease, and on strike.
‘Zulu’, as he was nicknamed, drilled two boundaries through the off-side from the first two deliveries bowled by Damien Fleming to bring the equation down to one off four balls. Allan Donald, standing at the non-striker’s end, was happy to be a mere spectator, as nothing could go wrong from here.
But fate had other plans.
Two balls later, Donald and Klusener were at the same end of the pitch, as the former failed to respond to Klusener’s call for a quick single. By the time Donald made a run, Gilchrist had removed the bails – and it was all over.
The match ended in a tie, but Australia, on account of a superior net run rate to South Africa in the Super Six stage, went through to the title clash.
The South Africans couldn’t believe it. The Australians couldn’t believe it. Many still fail to fathom what transpired that day.
2003 World Cup: Group Match vs Sri Lanka
South Africa were hosting the World Cup for the first time but that didn’t ensure any change of luck. Like every edition, this time too South Africa enjoyed the ‘favourites’ tag. But this time they didn’t get off to a good start, losing the opener to West Indies by three runs.
By the time group stage reached its business end, South Africa needed to win their last match against Sri Lanka to be in the next round. Chasing Sri Lanka’s 268, South Africa were 229/6 in 45 overs when umpires decided to call on the covers. With time-running out and rain showing no signs of ceasing, the match was called off with scores tied according to the Duckworth-Lewis method.
South Africa, who needed a win to go through, were knocked out. Apart from Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Kenya go through to the next round from the group as the South Africans were left cursing themselves, again.
A lack of communication and miscalculation led to South Africa’s ouster. A single would have been enough for the home side as Boucher played the last ball of the match for a dot, thinking they had enough for a win, as far as the Duckworth-Lewis method was concerned.
Again, it was a solitary run which spoiled the Proteas’ party. The South Africans had only themselves to be blamed as they were knocked out in the first round in a World Cup for the first time, and that too in front of their home crowd.
2011 World Cup: Quarter-Final vs New Zealand
After topping Group B, it was the knockout stage which again got the better off the South African side.
The Proteas were playing New Zealand in the third quarter-final. After restricting New Zealand to 221/8, South Africa were looking good at 108/2 in 24 overs, with Kallis and de Villiers at the crease.
After Kallis got dismissed on the very next ball, it was all downhill for South Africa as they lost their last eight wickets for 64 runs. South Africa again faltered at the knockout stage.
2015 World Cup: Semi-Final vs New Zealand
The best semi-final till date in a World Cup. South Africa and New Zealand played out a match worthy to be the final of a World Cup. South Africa finished with 281/5 in 43 overs in a rain-interrupted match, and the Kiwis were chasing a revised target of 298 in 43 overs for a place in their first World Cup final.
It was Grant Elliott, a South African-born Kiwi cricketer, who made sure his native country was again denied a place in a World Cup final. Needing five runs off the last two balls, Elliott hit Dale Steyn for a six off the penultimate ball of the game as South Africa again plunged into despair in yet another semi-final.
Lapses in the field, including a missed run-out chance from AB de Villiers which would have seen the back of Elliott, turned out to be way too expensive – and meant South Africa’s dream of a World Cup final would continue to remain unfulfilled.
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