Having ended a run of seven semifinal losses in both short-form formats with their victory over Afghanistan, the Proteas came agonizingly close to their maiden World Cup titles. Heinrich Klaasen's blistering 52 from 27 balls, featuring five sixes and two fours, put South Africa in a strong position, but India's 'death' bowlers turned the tide in the final moments, clinching the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 by 7 runs.
If we look at South Africa losses in past, these stories reflect the recurring theme of near-misses and heartbreaks that have characterized South Africa's performance in major cricket tournaments. Despite their immense talent and strong teams, Proteas often need to catch up at crucial moments, earning a reputation for their struggles in knockout matches.
In the 1992 Cricket World Cup, South Africa made a remarkable return to international crickets after years of isolation due to apartheid. They played impressively throughout the tournament and reached the semifinals in England. The match held at the Sydney Cricket Ground was evenly poised when rain interrupted the play. South Africa required 22 runs from 13 balls to win. However, the rain rule in effect, which was criticized for being unfair, recalculated their target to 22 runs off just one ball when play resumed. This impossible task led to a heartbreaking exit from the tournament, leaving the team and fans shocked and disappointed.
The 1999 Cricket World Cup semifinal between South Africa and Australia at Edgbaston is one of the most dramatic matches in cricket history. Chasing 214 runs for victory, South Africa needed just one run to win, with four balls remaining and one wicket in hand. However, a mix-up between Lance Klusener and Allan Donald resulted in Donald being run out, leading to a tied match. Australia's earlier victory over South Africa in the Super Six stage advanced to the final stage, leaving the South African team devastated by the narrowest margins and one of the most memorable moments of the World Cup cricket.
In the 2007 Cricket World Cup semifinal, South Africa faced Australia at Gros Islet, Saint Lucia. The Proteas batting lineup crumbled under the pressure of the Australian bowling attack and scored only 149 runs. Australia quickly chased its target and secured its spot. This heavy defeat was another addition to South Africa's World Cup disappointments, as they could not live up to their potential in crucial knockout matches.
The 2015 Cricket World Cup semifinal between South Africa and New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland, was thrilling. South Africa posted 281 challenging runs in a rain-affected match, with Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers leading the charge. New Zealand, led by aggressive innings from Brendon McCullum and a composed finish by Grant Elliott, chased down the target in the end. Elliott hit a six off the penultimate ball to seal the win for New Zealand, once again leaving South Africa agonizingly short of a World Cup final appearance.
During the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy in Colombo, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and India faced the semifinals. Chasing India’s 261 runs, South Africa appeared to be on course for victory. However, a dramatic collapse in their batting order caused them to fall short of 10 runs. The loss was a bitter pill, as the team missed the opportunity to reach the end of a major ICC tournament.
In 2013, the ICC Champions Trophy Semifinal at The Oval, London, South Africa faced England. First, South Africa's innings collapsed, and they managed only 175 runs. England's batters comfortably chased the target by knocking South Africa out of the tournament. This defeat highlighted Proteas' recurring struggles in knockout matches, particularly ICC events.
The 2009 ICC T20 World Cup semifinal at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, saw South Africa in Pakistan. Despite having a solid tournament, South Africa faltered its batting under pressure. They failed to chase Pakistan's total, falling short of seven. This loss added to South Africa's growing list of near-misses in significant tournament semifinals.
In the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup semifinal held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, South Africa posted a competitive score against India. However, Virat Kohli's masterful innings guided India into victory, chasing down the target with relative ease. This defeat in another ICC semifinal underscored Proteas' ongoing quest for success in the knockout stages and their struggle to cross the final hurdle in major tournaments.