'Ultimate chokers': South Africa's inexplicable blunder continues World Cup curse
South Africa have become the first team in World Cup history to lose five matches in the final over while defending a total.
Doing nothing to brush off the ‘chokers’ tag that has plagued their World Cup campaigns for decades, the Proteas made an unforgivable blunder that sealed their loss to New Zealand on Wednesday.
Kane Williamson made a brilliant unbeaten century to lead the Kiwis to a tense four-wicket victory with three balls to spare.
However he should have been out on 76, but South Africa inexplicably decided not to appeal.
Imran Tahir had Williamson caught behind, but no one seemed to hear the faint edge and Tahir’s half-hearted appeal was withdrawn.
Wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock didn’t appeal at all, despite being inches from Williamson when he took the catch.
Replays showed Williamson had indeed edged the ball straight into de Kock’s gloves, leaving commentators baffled.
“I can’t believe no one has appealed for that,” Isa Guha said.
⚾ Miller drops a tough chance. De grandhomme survies.
⚾ Williamson edges a ball but no one appeals except Tahir. He survives.
⚾ Miller breaks the stumps without gathering the ball. Williamson survives again. 😂
SA are the ultimate chokers for a reason.#NZvSA #WorldCup19— Ludwig (@Wittgenstein92) June 19, 2019
#NZvSA Williamson Tahir
This is where South Africa lost the World Cup!! No DRS Taken!! pic.twitter.com/b3Wm6ZNtnz— @How Football Saved Humans (@saved_how) June 19, 2019
A BIG mistake by the #Proteas as Tahir found Williamson's edge, but they did not ask for a review. #NZvSA #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/HZLA7VGLZ6
— SA Cricket magazine (@SACricketmag) June 19, 2019
#NZvSA #SAvNZ Williamson Tahir
Quinton de Kock while keeping pic.twitter.com/nFAQGyxc3g— How Football Saved Humans - Great Book to Read (@HowHumans) June 19, 2019
Kane Williamson survives getting out caught behind in Imran Tahir's last ball — noone joined Tahir in the appeal
; guides NZ to victory over SA#SAvNZ #SAvsNZ #NZvSA #NZvsSA#appealswinmatches@cricketingview @HomerOpineshttps://t.co/KfKfhsVt53
https://t.co/KFOaCS6Ikl— JoiningUnrelatedDots (@Mareeswj) June 19, 2019
It was the latest ignominy in South Africa’s shocking history of near-misses at the World Cup.
Teams losing most World Cup matches in the final over (when defending):
5 - SOUTH AFRICA
3 - Eng, WI
2 - Ind
1 - Pak, UAE, Zim, Sco, SL#SAvNZ #NZvSA #CWC19— Cricket World Cup (@ICC_CWCup_2019) June 19, 2019
South Africa's World Cup defeats in the final over (when defending the target):
v SL, Wellington, 1992
v Eng, MCG, 1992
v Aus, Leeds, 1999
v NZ, Auckland, 2015
v NZ, Birmingham, 2019
- Most such defeats in World Cup history for any team.— Cricket World Cup (@ICC_CWCup_2019) June 19, 2019
Down to the wire
Chasing 242 to win a match reduced to 49 overs a side by rain, New Zealand looked set to comfortably reach the target with Martin Guptill and Williamson at the crease.
But South Africa fast bowler Chris Morris picked up three wickets to leave New Zealand struggling at 5-137 before Williamson (106 not out) and Colin de Grandhomme (60) shared a 91-run partnership.
De Grandhomme fell before the end but Williamson reached his century with a six in the final over and guided New Zealand to their fourth win of the tournament with three balls to spare.
Earlier, South Africa's batsmen apart from Hashim Amla and Rassie van der Dussen failed to build on starts after being put into bat in the face of a disciplined bowling effort from the Kiwis.
Amla was bowled for 55 by Mitchell Santner but Van der Dussen's unbeaten 67 off 64 balls gave the South Africans a respectable total to defend.
The result left South Africa, who have won only one match, virtually out of the running for a semi-final spot while New Zealand kept their unbeaten run intact to move to the top of the standings with four wins in five games.
with AAP