This time for South Africa? Proteas look to alter history, reach first final

Some of the most lasting memories of the World Cup have not been of winners. Cue South Africa here, in any random manner you deem fit. Shaun Pollock sinking in his seat after getting the Duckworth/Lewis par score wrong in 2003, losing the middle-overs plot in the quarter-finals of 1996 and 2011 or the last-ball defeat in the 2015 semi-final—these were exits and more, even scars for some. Mother of travesties struck when the SCG scoreboard flashed “South Africa to win need 22 runs off 1 ball” in their 1992 semi-final against England. Mention 1999 though and it inevitably draws a prolonged pause.

- Somshuvra Laha

Almost 25 years now and still there has been no plausible explanation to what exactly transpired in those milliseconds after Lance Klusener called Allan Donald for that single. That tied semi-final gave the world the rush of a lifetime at South Africa’s expense but it was also an epitome of how talent, skill and intent aren’t enough sometimes. And also, the unfairness of life, something Klusener knows best. “We see India, Australia lose tight games as well but no one calls them chokers,” he had told HT before the 2019 World Cup. “To me, it’s a bit of a stupid comment or tag. But at the same time, it’s not going to go away till South Africa wins one of these ICC tournaments.”

So here we are, at another World Cup, ahead of another semi-final. Is it coincidence that more often than not at this stage South Africa run into either New Zealand, or more ominously, Australia? There was 1999, and then 2007, defeats with different margins in different manners, but defeat nevertheless. These are different times too. Australia are far less brusque, far more gracious, but not without their winning edge. This is a more inclusive South Africa too, honest enough to spell out that the stage — and not Australia specifically — triggers the jitters.