South Africa’s misfortune at Cricket World Cups is well-known and the nation’s cursed luck struck once more of their opening T20 World Cup match in Hobart this week after they were pressured to share the factors with Zimbabwe after rain washed out play with the Proteas needing simply 13 runs in 4 overs to win.
Read extra: De Kock masterclass not sufficient as rain robs Proteas of victory
Here are three other times rain has impeded SA at Cricket World Cups
March 22, 1992 in Sydney
South Africa was heading in direction of democracy and euphoria was gripping the nation because the crew marched into the semi-finals of their first World Cup. But the nation’s hopes were dashed as, chasing 253 to win in 45 overs, South Africa reached 231/6 off 42.5 overs when rain arrived.
Brian McMillan and Dave Richardson had already added 25, however when play resumed, the bizarre guidelines for adjusted targets (the crew batting first had their lowest-scoring overs taken off the overall), and the TV cut-off time meant South Africa wanted 21 runs off the final ball, their adjusted goal being 252 in 43 overs.
Many imagine that is when South Africa’s World Cup curse started.
March 3, 2003 in Durban
There were excessive hopes for South Africa because the 2003 World Cup was held there following their exit in 1999 in an epic semi-final tie with Australia. But this time they didn’t progress out of the group levels, mockingly once more attributable to a tie in what could be their final match.
There was rain round Kingsmead as they chased 269 to beat Sri Lanka and, with Mark Boucher and captain Shaun Pollock on the crease within the closing levels, the sheets for the Duckworth/Lewis targets were introduced out to them and in addition Lance Klusener when Pollock was run out.
But what no one realised was the quantity printed on the paper was the par rating, so South Africa wanted yet one more run to win. Boucher, pondering that they had completed sufficient to win, blocked what would change into the final ball because the heavens opened. Why no one realised the error and who was guilty – Pollock, Boucher, coach Eric Simons or the supervisor? – were questions that tortured native followers for weeks.
March 24, 2015 in Auckland
Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers were going nice weapons within the World Cup semi-final towards New Zealand, having added 102 for the fourth wicket in lower than 12 overs and with 12 overs remaining so as to add to their complete of 216/3. And then the rain got here.
Du Plessis gloved a hook down the leg-side off the second ball again and important momentum was misplaced with the Proteas ending on 281/5 in 43 overs.
Duckworth/Lewis credited them with some further runs although and New Zealand were set 298 to win in 43 overs. It is just befitting of a World Cup curse that it was a South African born participant, Grant Elliott, who lashed 84 not out off 73 balls to remove his former compatriots. What might have been if there had been no rain delay?
Also learn: Zim coach Houghton slams choice to play in ‘ridiculous’ situations
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