South Africa World Cup Chokes, a phrase we have often heard before, maybe too often.
I personally do not like the ‘choker’ term, but there is a reason why the Proteas have earned this tag—rain interruptions, inexplicable collapses, internal politics, dropped catches & runouts, mathematical errors, and sometimes they just don’t show up on the big day. So, to refresh your memories, here is the List of Top 21 South Africa World Cup Chokes & Heartbreaks—Men & Women Combined.
Top 21 List of South Africa World Cup Chokes
Here is the complete list of South Africa’s heartbreaks.
The heartbreaks of all heartbreaks. 8 runs needed in 1 over, 1 wicket remaining. Lance Klusener, in the form of his life, hits two fours. 1 run needed in 4 balls. Klusener – 31*(14). Surely, Proteas has one foot in the finals. Unfortunately, not enough feet as Klusener calls for a panic run, Allan Donald ball watches, runs late, and gets run out. Match Tied. The tie breaker? The Super Six match between Australia and South Africa, which Australia won, most famously known for Steve Waugh’s comment to Herschelle Gibbs, “You just dropped the World Cup.”Waugh went on to make a century and Australia won that clash.
Well on the field, you cannot really blame South Africa. With the bat, Faf-ABD-Miller got South Africa to a massive total in a, wait for it, rain curtailed game. NZ had less overs to chase, Baz went all out, Grant Elliot played the innings of his life, and Dale Steyn was on his feet at the end.Rain had arrived when SA were cruising at 216/3 in 38 overs. They got 281 in 43, but NZ magnificently chased 299 (DL).
What’s the fuss with DL method? Or the DLS vs VJD methods? Well, long, long time ago these rules did not exist. 22 needed in 13. Anyone’s game. Rain intervened for a short 10-minute break. Next thing you know, South Africa need 22 runs in 1 ball. Explain that.
Virat Kohli, Axar Patel, and Shivam Dube had scratched up to 176 after being 3/34. South Africa kept coming back with Maharaj’s wickets, Quinton de Kock’s run out, and brilliant fielding throughout. On the batting front, Stubbs-de Kock manufactured a comeback after being down 2/12. Surely, they had the belief this time. They had held their nerve in all of their close matches so far. Then, came Klaasen’s historic knock. He blew Axar Patel’s away and was on a 51*(23). One of the best innings in a World Cup Final. 27 was needed of 28, 6 wickets in hand. Then, Hardik Pandya dismissed Klaasen with a wide one and Jasprit Bumrah did what Bumrah always does. Kept it tight, didn’t give anything away, and bowled a gem of a delivery to dismiss Jansen. Arshdeep came in and Maharaj got stuck. At the end, the last hope, Miller skied a wide one and Suryakumar Yadav took the catch of the final. The Proteas short by 7 runs. Short , once again.
Myburgh, Max O’Dowd, Colin Ackermann, Tom Cooper, and Scott Edward’s little contributions took Netherlands to 158/4. Quick start by the Proteas but regular wickets and THAT CATCH by former South African cricketer, Roelof van der Merwe meant SA could only get to 145/8.From top of the group to crashing out. They only needed to win one game of the last two and they failed. The No-Result vs Zimbabwe will pinch them as well.“
6. 2003 World Cup Group Stage Exit (Math/DL Method)
1, 0, 0, 5 wides, 1, SIX!, 0, RAIN. Match Tied. South Africa eliminated in the group stage at a home world cup.
Murali bowling to Klusener-Boucher. Last ball-Dot. Reason? South Africa management had miscalculated the DL method and stayed at 229. Had they taken a single, SA would have qualified for the next round.
When asked captain Shaun Pollock in the post-match presentation whether there was any confusion over DL calculations, Pollock replied with “Yeah, Boucher was given a message of 229.”
“So for the second time in a row, South Africa exited with a Tied game. South Africa and the public couldn’t believe it. One run the difference between success and failure.”
In a chase of 157, South Africa were 109/3 with Laura Wolvaardt at 61*. South Africa finally believed after Australia had dominated throughout on the back of Beth Mooney’s 74*. In comes Schutt. Wolvaardt departs. Despite Chloe Tryon’s best efforts, South Africa still fell 19 runs short.
Chasing 299, South Africa were 209/6 in 39.3 overs. They had a mini-collapse earlier, but Annerie Dercksen started to provide Laura Wolvaardt much needed support. They were behind the rate, but the match could have gone down the wire.
But it was not to be. After Dercksen’s dismissal and Wolvaardt’s century, back-to-back wickets meant that they collapsed and lost by 52 runs.
Earlier, there were dropped catches, which took India to a competitive 298. 3rd World Cup Final loss in a row.
New Zealand came out aggressive, and South Africa were a bit loose in the field. No balls, wides, misfields, and great display of batting from Halliday, Kerr, and Bates got the White Ferns to 159. However, Wolvaardt & Brits started positively getting to 51/0 in 6.4 overs. Without another 108 runs needed in 80 balls with 10 wickets in hand, they were right in it. Then, Brits lost her wicket, Tahuhu bowled a 1-run over, and pressure got to Wolvaardt. Amelia Kerr took both Laura & Anneke’s wickets in the same over, and South Africa never recovered.
To beat the great Australian team in the semi-finals, and still lose their 2nd consecutive Finals (3rd including Men’s) will surely hurt.
Meg Lanning gets Australia to 134/5. Runs on the board, but still chaseable with South Africa’s solid batting order. But then, rain intervened. Again. And now they needed 98 in 13 overs, much more challenging with the higher required rate.Laura Wolvaardt played a gem of a knock 41* (27) and brought it down to 19 off 6, but unfortunately, no Carlos Brathwaite moment for them.
South Africa scored a competitive 218. South Africa defending their last over – Dropped dot ball, 1, Wicket, Four. Another last over heartbreak. The difference between the sides? Extras.4 given by England and 25 by South Africa.
Small total to chase, good partnership. All looking good. Then some harsh fighting on the field, a run-out, and the collapse. Perfect ingredients for the ideal South African choke.
From 108-2 in 24 overs to 172 all out in the small chase of 222.
4 wins out of 5. Net Run Rate of +0.739. Temba Bavuma unites the team after Quinton de Kock sits out. Surely, nothing can stop them now? Nope. England & Australia both won 4/5 and had an EVEN BETTER net run rate. The Stoinis-Wade partnership in the low scoring first match hurt South Africa.
In their final match against England, they had scored 189/2 and won against the great English side. Even that wasn’t enough as they had to restrict England to 131 to get their NRR high enough.
India won this one comfortably. South Africa could only get to 116 in chase of 154. Had they got 10 more runs, they would have qualified to the semi-finals of the inaugural T20 World Cup, but lost out due to NRR yet again.
South Africa could only score 101, while England’s stalwarts Sarah Taylor, Charlotte Edwards, and Heather Knight breezed through the chase in 16.5 overs.
Why are South Africa called ‘Chokers’ in world cricket? South Africa have failed to qualify due to rain & nerves in 1992, 1999, 2007, 2011, and 2015 ODI World Cups along with 2007, 2009, 2014, and 2022 T20 World Cups, 2014, 2022 Women’s T20 World Cup and 2000, 2017, and 2022 Women’s ODI World Cups.
Comment below on your thoughts about South Africa World Cup Chokes and Heartbreaks! Also, feel free to checkout some of our other recent articles.
0 Comments