Ever since their re-entry in international cricket in 1991, South Africa have been a powerful team. Yet, they have nothing to show for their cricketing abilities except the ICC Knockout Trophy in 1998. They have been forever carrying the tag of ‘chokers’.
Here are some big games South Africa have lost, many from winning positions, in ICC tournaments:
1996 World Cup QF vs WI: Chasing 265 for victory, Andrew Hudson and Daryll Cullinan put on a 97-run partnership for the second wicket to place SA comfortably at 118/2. The rest of the batting collapsed and SA fell 19 short.
1999 World Cup SF vs Australia: Hansie Cronje’s team went into the tournament as overwhelming favourites. But his batting line-up choked while chasing 214. Although Lance Klusener put SA in pole position in the last over with one needed off the last four balls, a major confusion between him and No. 11 Allan Donald while taking a single off the fourth ball resulted in the match ending in a tie. Since Australia had beaten them in Super Six stage, Steve Waugh’s side qualified for the final and eventually won the tournament.
2003 World Cup vs Sri Lanka: Needing 269 to win their last Super Six match and qualify for the semifinal, hosts South Africa started batting for rain in Durban in the final stages of the chase. Mark Boucher thought 229/6 would be the winning score at the end of the 45th over when the rain started and he played a perfect front foot defence off Muthiah Muralitharan’s last ball after hitting the previous ball for a six. It turned out 229/6 was the par score. SA needed to be at 230/6 to win.
2007 World T20 vs India: India set South Africa a target of 154 to win to the last group match. But they needed to score 126 to qualify for the semis. Graeme Smith’s team folded for 116/9 and were knocked out.
2011 World Cup QF vs New Zealand: Chasing 222, South Africa collapsed from 108/2 to 170 on a sluggish pitch in Mirpur.
2015 World Cup SF vs New Zealand: New Zealand were given a target of 298 in 43 overs by D/L method. After multiple missed opportunities in the field, NZ needed 30 runs with four wickets and three overs to go. Grant Elliot finished with an unbeaten 84 off 73 as he dispatched Dale Steyn into the deep mid-wicket stand with one ball to spare as SA were sent home packing.
Here are some big games South Africa have lost, many from winning positions, in ICC tournaments:
1996 World Cup QF vs WI: Chasing 265 for victory, Andrew Hudson and Daryll Cullinan put on a 97-run partnership for the second wicket to place SA comfortably at 118/2. The rest of the batting collapsed and SA fell 19 short.
1999 World Cup SF vs Australia: Hansie Cronje’s team went into the tournament as overwhelming favourites. But his batting line-up choked while chasing 214. Although Lance Klusener put SA in pole position in the last over with one needed off the last four balls, a major confusion between him and No. 11 Allan Donald while taking a single off the fourth ball resulted in the match ending in a tie. Since Australia had beaten them in Super Six stage, Steve Waugh’s side qualified for the final and eventually won the tournament.
2003 World Cup vs Sri Lanka: Needing 269 to win their last Super Six match and qualify for the semifinal, hosts South Africa started batting for rain in Durban in the final stages of the chase. Mark Boucher thought 229/6 would be the winning score at the end of the 45th over when the rain started and he played a perfect front foot defence off Muthiah Muralitharan’s last ball after hitting the previous ball for a six. It turned out 229/6 was the par score. SA needed to be at 230/6 to win.
2007 World T20 vs India: India set South Africa a target of 154 to win to the last group match. But they needed to score 126 to qualify for the semis. Graeme Smith’s team folded for 116/9 and were knocked out.
2011 World Cup QF vs New Zealand: Chasing 222, South Africa collapsed from 108/2 to 170 on a sluggish pitch in Mirpur.
2015 World Cup SF vs New Zealand: New Zealand were given a target of 298 in 43 overs by D/L method. After multiple missed opportunities in the field, NZ needed 30 runs with four wickets and three overs to go. Grant Elliot finished with an unbeaten 84 off 73 as he dispatched Dale Steyn into the deep mid-wicket stand with one ball to spare as SA were sent home packing.
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