The 30th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 was played on Sunday between South Africa and Pakistan. In this match, South Africa had to face a 49-run defeat. With this, the Proteas team were knocked out of the tournament.
This is only the second time in South African cricket history that they have failed to make it to the knock out stage.
Let us have a look at their journey in World Cup Cricket:
1992 World Cup debut – Semi-final exit
South Africa Cricket Team made their debut in World Cup Cricket in 1992. This was their first appearance in the showpiece event and they performed brilliantly in this tournament. This tournament was played in a Round Robin format and nine teams had participated in it. South Africa finished third in the points tally.
However, they faced England in the semi-final and were knocked out as England defeated South Africa by 19 runs.
1996 World Cup – Quarterfinal exit
The 1996 edition of the tournament which was organized in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka saw South Africa exit in the Quarter Final stage.
South Africa won all their matches in the group stage and were the group toppers. However, as soon as they faced the West Indies in the Quarterfinals they lost the match. That drew curtains to their World Cup campaign in 1996.
1999 World Cup – Semi-final exit
In the 1999 World Cup, South Africa’s brilliant run continued. South Africa won four out of the five group matches and were once again table toppers. With this, they entered the Super Six phase of the tournament in which they won their three encounters out of five to secure a place in the semi-finals.
However, in one of the best matches in World Cup history and a match which earned South Africa the tag of “chokers”, South Africa “tied” the semi-final clash against Australia and since Australia had a better net run rate in the group stages, the Proteas were knocked out of the tournament- only a run short of the finals.
2003 World Cup – Group stage exit
The 2003 Cricket World Cup was organized in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. The Proteas team had to play a few matches in their home.
Most critics and commentators thought South Africa would finally enter the finals. However, this World Cup proved a nightmare for the Proteas.
Proteas managed to win three of their six group matches and failed to make it to the next stage of the tournament.
2007 World Cup – Semi-final exit
In the 2007 edition of the tournament organized in the West Indies, 16 teams had participated. South Africa having won two out of their three group matches made a place for themselves in the Super Eight phase of the tournament. In this stage, they needed to play seven matches, and Proteas won four out of these to proceed to the semi-final stage.
In the semi-final stage, Australia thrashed Proteas by seven wickets to end Africa’s hopes of winning the coveted trophy.
2011 World Cup – Quarterfinal exit
In the 2011 World Cup, South Africa performed well. In the group stage, they won five out of their six matches. With this South Africa qualified for the Quarterfinals. Against New Zealand in the Quarterfinals, the Proteas fell short by 49 runs to get knocked out of the tournament.
2015 World Cup – Semi-final exit
In the 2015 edition of the trophy organised in Australia and New Zealand, South Africa were in Pool B. The Proteas won four out of their six matches in the group stage and went on to defeat Sri Lanka by 9 wickets in the Quarterfinals.
However, against New Zealand, the South Africans were beaten by 4 wickets to experience yet another defeat in the semi-final stage.
Ongoing 2019 World Cup – League/Group stage exit
The ongoing edition of the tournament has arguably been South Africa’s worst ever performance. The team has managed only one win in their seven matches so far while one of their matches was washed out. Even if the Proteas manage to win their remaining two matches, their journey in this year’s tournament will meet a dead end.