As if to wipe away years of heartache and the trauma of being labeled underperformers despite having some of international cricket’s biggest names in the lineup, South Africa stormed into the final of the T20 World Cup 2024. South Africa and World Cup semi-finals used to be a sporting tragedy of Shakespearean proportions. Not anymore. Shedding the unwanted tag for perennial “chokers”, the Proteas marched into their maiden T20 World Cup final unbeaten in Tarouba, Trinidad, comfortably beating tournament giant-slayers Afghanistan. That win washed off decades of heartache and the trauma of being labelled under-performers despite having some of the biggest names in international cricket in their line-up. Let us look in the tormented past of Proteas where they failed to get over the line at their key junctures in global events.
1992 ODI World Cup semifinal vs Australia
Not quite a choke but just bad luck. Emerging after 22 years of exile following the end of apartheid in the country, South Agrica had everything going for them, their lightening quick bowlers were excelling, their fielders affected sensational run-outs.
However, in the semifinal, rain came and the equation went from a reasonably gettable 22 off 7 balls, gettable to 22 off just one bacll, thanks to a miscommunication on their revised target.
1996 ODI World Cup quarterfinal vs West Indies
Having won all their group matches, Hansie Cronje and his men started firm favourites against West Indies in the quarterfinal. But Brian Lara played an absolute blinder while spinners Roger Harper and Jimmy Adams spun a web to inflict a 19-run defeat on the Proteas.
1999 ODI World Cup semifinal vs Australia
Probably the most heart-wrenching game in the history of South African cricket. The semifinal at Edgbaston that turned tournament’s best player Lance Klusener into the World Cup’s biggest tragic hero.
Chasing a modest 214, South Africa needed nine off the final over with the final pair at the crease. Klusener smashed the first two balls for fours to level the scores but Allan Donald was run out and the game was tied.
Australia went through to the final because they had recorded a win in the earlier game between the teams in the super sixes stage.
2007 ODI World Cup semifinal vs Australia
The South Africa decision to bat first dramatically backfired as a revered line-up, which included the likes of Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, and Mark Boucher was shot out for a paltry 149. Australia finished off the game with nearly 20 overs to spare
2009 T20 World Cup semifinal vs Pakistan
The Proteas defeated New Zealand, England, West Indies and India en route to the last four stage and were high on confidence. But a miserly spell by Shahid Afridi stopped them as they failed to chase a reasonably decent 150.
2011 ODI World Cup quarterfinal vs New Zealand
An lineup including AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and JP Duminy wouldn’t chase a small target of 222 against New Zealand. At 108 for 3 in the 25 overs, South Africa were looking set for a cruise to victory, but then lost the next seven wickets for 64 runs.
2013 Champions Trophy semifinal vs England
South Africa were 8/80 before David Miller and Rory Kleinveldt inflated the total to 175 but Jonathan Trott smashed a fine unbeaten 82 and England chased the target down with more than 12 overs to spare, winning by seven wickets.
“I think we did choke in the game. You’ve got to accept that’s what it is. It’s definitely a dark mist that hangs over South African cricket in knockout events,” coach Gary Kirsten had said after the game.
2014 T20 World Cup semifinal vs India
South Africa’s semifinal curse continued as they failed to get over the line in another crunch match. This time against a clinical Indian unit.
2015 ODI World Cup semifinal vs New Zealand
That was not altering anywhere for the Proteas: whether it was a golden generation of South Africa cricketers, at their peak, the foundation was all covered according to their thinking, but again by New Zealand in the semifinals stage, it gave them another heartbreak.
2022 T20 World Cup Super 12 vs Netherlands
A solitary win away from the semifinals, South Africa choked to suffer a 13-run shock defeat at the hands of a spirited Netherlands side.
2023 ODI World Cup semifinal vs Australia
The Proteas galloped through the league stage, even inflicting a massive 134-run defeat on Australia. But when it came to that crucial last four game, South Africa meekly surrendered to the men from Down Under in the semifinals for their fifth semifinal exit in 50-over World Cups.
Choke-Hold: A Look At South Africa’s Painful Past At ICC Events
