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Cricket World Cup: South Africa's history of choking

Started by Brycy10 REPLIES1,836 VIEWS· 17 Mar 2015, 09:31
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BR
BrycyPro4,671 posts
17 Mar 2015, 09:31
#1
17 Mar 2015, 09:31#1

South Africa have a history of choking at the World Cup.

Just today their coach, Russell Domingo, acknowledged it was something the team has discussed ahead of their quarterfinal against Sri Lanka tomorrow.


Here's a look back on some of the Proteas' World Cup chokes.


1996 - QUARTER-FINAL LOSS TO THE WINDIES

It wasn't so much a choke as a poor selection decision but conventional wisdom says if Allan Donald is available, you play him. The selectors instead went with twin spinners Paul Adams (2-45 from 8) and Pat Symcox (2-64 from 10) who were hammered around the ground by Brian Lara. South Africa didn't lose a pool match prior to this battle, while the Windies were beaten in the semi-final by Australia.


1999 - SUPER SIX LOSS TO AUSTRALIA

Whether it was "you've just dropped the World Cup" or "you realise you just cost South Africa the match", Steve Waugh's words hit the mark on Herschelle Gibbs' dropped catch.

When the gun South Africa fieldsman went for his trademark flick up upon catching the ball, the Protea turfed it. Waugh, on 56 at the time, ended up making an unbeaten 120 and steered Australia to a famous victory as they made the required 272 with two balls remaining.


1999 - SEMI-FINAL AGAINST AUSTRALIA

Allan Donald was a great bowler, but he was an uninspiring bat - this was his darkest hour.

Lance Klusener was on strike to start the final over, to be bowled by Damien Fleming, with South Africa needing nine runs with one wicket in hand.

Klusener hit two fours off the first two balls which prompted Aussie skipper Steve Waugh to bring his field in - the next ball was a dot and Donald, backing up too far was nearly run out by Darren Lehmann.

The next ball Klusener hit it to Mark Waugh and embarked on a panic run. With Donald ball-watching, Waugh threw it to Fleming, who rolled it to Adam Gilchrist at the other end as the Aussies ran out Donald, who forlornly ran without a bat and without hope.

The match was tied, with Australia advancing to the final having finished higher on the Super Six table.


2003 - GROUP STAGE LOSS TO SRI LANKA

Effectively a knockout game with the winner through to the Super Sixes - Mark Boucher had South Africa home with a six early in the final over, or so he thought - but captain Shaun Pollock had mucked up the maths. South Africa needed 229 to tie, not win and as Boucher stood still after pushing the final ball away to a squarish mid-wicket, rather than taking a single, their World Cup dreams once again ended.


2007 - SEMI-FINAL LOSS TO AUSTRALIA

This was a complete and utter humiliation.

Having lost to Australia in the group stage the Proteas lined up against them in the semis and never looked in the contest.

Shaun Tait (4-39) and Glenn McGrath (3-18) were the chief destroyers bowling South Africa out for 149. Australia chased the runs in the 32nd over.


2011 - QUARTER-FINAL LOSS TO NEW ZEALAND

Once again the Proteas dominated the group stage, winning five of their six matches, a loss to England their only blemish - then came the finals.

New Zealand had scraped in with losses to Australia and Sri Lanka to finish fourth in their group.

The Black Caps made a meagre 221 from their 50 overs and were saved by an 83 from Jesse Ryder as Morne Morkel (3-46) and Dale Steyn (2-42) wreaked havoc.

Simple chase right? Wrong.

At 3-108 the Proteas were cruising, but not long after they were 7-132 and when AB de Villiers was run out by Martin Guptill the choke was on. They failed to recover and were bundled out yet again.

- AAP

CE
CeradynePro9,374 posts
17 Mar 2015, 10:35
#2
17 Mar 2015, 10:35#2
 If only SA could win the CWC as often as NZ.................
RO
RooinekCaptain18,117 posts
17 Mar 2015, 13:14
#4
17 Mar 2015, 13:14#4
The word "choke" is used quite liberally during this particular tournament - especially when the Proteas are involved - but to me a choke is when you lose a game from a winning position.

Not sure how the loss to the Aussies in 2007 or the 1996 loss to Brian Lara can be described as a "choke" because we were never in either of those two games but we can't deny the others, most notably the double-choke in 1999 in the group stages and in the semi.

Just for the record, the Proteas did not lose to Sri Lanka in 2003, they tied a game that they should have won if our idiot captain at the time had worked out the DL requirements and communicated them.

I would also include the loss to New Zealand in 2003 as a choke after a Herschelle Gibbs century allowed us to score over 300 from where we should have won the game . . . but the truth is that entire CWC was a massive choke for us as we were the home team and we couldn't even make the knockout stages!

If we lose tomorrow fair and square against Sri Lanka because of another amazing knock by Sangakkara (or Dilshan for that matter) or a fantastic bowling performance by someone like Malinga then I'll cope with that because I didn't have very high expectations  coming into this tournament . . . but if we screw up from a winning position again then I'll permanently give up any hope of ever winning this CWC!

Come on Proteas!
BE
Beeno1Captain40,032 posts
17 Mar 2015, 20:29
#5
17 Mar 2015, 20:29#5
 Its rediculous. Teams lose from a  winning posi tion it happens often enough but we have to insist our side choked. Bwahahahahahahhaha Do we need supporters like these Proteas? Nooooooo
BO
bobbok...Captain10,129 posts
17 Mar 2015, 20:54
#6
17 Mar 2015, 20:54#6
 Well said Rooinek & regardless of the outcome of this CWC we will remain no1 where it matters most, the 5 day game........ an arena where NZ aren't even contenders .

Brycy, the ultimate sporting choke must be losing the America's Cup, coughing up an 8-1 lead un f#$ believable ......
MO
moolaaPro2,380 posts
17 Mar 2015, 20:57
#7
17 Mar 2015, 20:57#7
 "Teams lose from a winning position". Happens often enough for the Boks.......
BO
bobbok...Captain10,129 posts
17 Mar 2015, 21:31
#8
17 Mar 2015, 21:31#8
 Well for the longtime undisputed world leaders in rugby to go 24 years between RWC victories was a 'jchoke' as well ............. & NZ's two victories were achieved at home, unlike the Boks, Aussies & English who were victorious abroad .
BE
Beeno1Captain40,032 posts
17 Mar 2015, 21:39
#9
17 Mar 2015, 21:39#9
 Moola take out ref assisted wins by the wee abs and the picture would be vastly different.Who will ever forget the shameless way the wee abs burgled the last RWC!!! As expalined before we have twice a smany yellows than the wee abs when our two teams meet. Wouldnt be surprised if other stas are aslo as favourable. Look how the crusaders got away with murder against the Lions etc. 

Yes indeed Bob if the word choking has validity that is a major choke for sure!!! 
Here is ou brycy gloating in a most unbecoming manner away but what has nz cricket achieved to date, especially when compared to our record as a leading test playing nation. 
To the dog box with the rascal brycy!!!!   


 
CE
CeradynePro9,374 posts
18 Mar 2015, 11:26
#10
18 Mar 2015, 11:26#10
Good day to you too, Brycy.  
3K
3ku1Pro2,580 posts
18 Mar 2015, 11:31
#11
18 Mar 2015, 11:31#11
 Oh Beeno you reaally need to get over this idea that NZ teams cheat. We all SA rugby teams have been getting away with murder too for years, so let's not act like your the victim lol. As for the RWC Lord man get over it. NZ were the best side at the world cup and wan 8-7, their is just no ways about it. A NZ team beats a SA team in rugby they must of cheated 
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