3 biggest disappointments for South Africa in ODI World Cup history

South Africa have been one of the favorite teams in almost all editions of the ODI World Cup since their comeback in cricket 31 years back in the year 1992. The Proteas made their first-ever ODI World Cup appearance in the 1992 edition of the tournament. Since then, they have always been counted among the favorites to win the tournament. 

But the bad luck and the series of unfortunate incidents always followed the South African team like a shadow. Even after one of the strongest squads in the ODI World Cups, South Africa have never won any title in their 31-year-long journey in the tournament.

Meanwhile, they have also faced a couple of disappointments which no one expected, including defeats from the lower-ranked teams and the shocking and unfortunate from the knockout round of an ODI World Cup. 

With that said, here we’ll have a look at the three biggest disappointments for South Africa in the ODI World Cup history. 

South Africa 3 biggest disappointments in ODI World Cup history:

Lost to the Netherlands by 38 runs, ODI World Cup 2023

The third most disappointing day for South Africa came recently in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. It all happened on Tuesday, October 17 in Dharamsala when the mighty South Africa locked horns against the lowest-ranked team of this edition, the Netherlands. Everyone was expecting an easy win for the Proteas but the result happened to leave everyone in big shock. 

The Netherlands were asked to bat first by South Africa after the latter won the toss; the Dutch side posted a decent total in the allotted 43 overs due to the rain interruption in the match. While chasing the target, South Africa choked against the bowling attack of the Netherlands and got bundled out with the score of 207 runs. Eventually, Scott Edwards’ men shocked everyone and defeated South Africa by 38 runs to register their first win in the tournament. 

Lost to Zimbabwe by 48 runs, ODI World Cup 1999 

24 years back from now in the year, South Africa faced another upset in the ODI World Cup 1999 when they took on the lower-ranked team, Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean skipper Alistair Campbell won the toss and decided to bat first. On the back of a 74-run knock played by opener Neil Johnson followed by Murray Goodwin’s 34 and wicketkeeper-batter Andy Flower’s 29 runs, Zimbabwe posted a total of 233 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. 

The star Proteas batting lineup, including the likes of Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis, and skipper Hansie Cronje completely fumbled against Zimbabwe’s bowling attack. Zimbabwe bundled out South Africa on the score of 185 runs in 47.2 overs and won the match by 48 runs to leave the entire cricketing fraternity in shock. It is still the second biggest disappointment for the rainbow nation in their ODI World Cup history. 

ODI World Cup 2015, a shocking exit after semi-final defeat 

It was the fourth time in the history of the ODI World Cup for South Africa that they made it to the semi-finals of the tournament since their first semi-final appearance in 1992. Ab de Villiers-led Proteas locked horns against the hosts, New Zealand in the rain-affected first semi-final of the ODI World Cup 2015 at Eden Park in Auckland. 

South Africa won the toss and batted first; they posted a total of 281 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the allotted 50 overs courtesy of brilliant 82 and 65-run knocks from Faf du Plessis and skipper AB de Villiers, respectively.

While defending the target, the Proteas were looking in good control till the last over when the Kiwis needed 5 runs off the last two balls. Star pace spearhead Dale Steyn was bowling to New Zealand’s Grant Elliot. Everyone was expecting that Steyn would restrict Elliot from scoring these runs off the last 2 balls but the latter had some other plans and smashed a brilliant six on the penultimate ball of the last over to take New Zealand into the finals. It was one of the shocking and heartbreaking exits for South Africa from an ODI World Cup.