From Bangladesh to Netherlands: South Africa’s shock defeats in World Cup history

There’s a common aspect in all of the unexpected defeats that South Africa have faced in all World Cups since 1992. Their batting crumbled under pressure of tricky targets.

South Africa have lost 39 matches in all editions of World Cups (ODI and T20I) and 23 times, they failed to chase down targets.

On Tuesday, it was not any different as they lost to the Netherlands in one of the most extraordinary upsets in World Cup history.

Let’s take a look at the instances when South Africa lost in World Cups despite being firm favourites to win. There are quite a few.

South Africa vs Zimbabwe, 1999, Zimbabwe
Back in 1999, South Africa were one of the strongest contenders to win the World Cup. The likes of Jacques Kallis, Gary Kirsten, Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, and Shaun Pollock made them a force to be reckoned with. They missed out agonisingly on a spot in the final after their epic tied semi-final against Australia.

Prior to that, Hansie Cronje’s men also lost to Zimbabwe by 48 runs at the County Ground in Chelmsford. Allan Donald picked up three wickets as the Proteas restricted Alastair Campbell’s men to 233 for six. Donald, popularly known as the White Lightning, got the wickets of Neil Johnson, Campbell and Guy Whittall.

Just when it seemed that with the batting lineup that they had, it was going to be a straightforward run-chase for the Proteas, the match turned on its head.

South Africa were reduced to 40 for six in 11.4 overs. Johnson and Heath Streak ran through the Proteas batting by picking up three wickets apiece. Pollock and Klusener scored 52 runs apiece, but their efforts went in vain. The Proteas were shot out for 185.

South Africa vs Bangladesh, 2007, Providence

South Africa stuttered again in the World Cup eight years later, that time against Habibul Bashar’s Bangladesh, losing by 67 runs at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.

The Tigers were high on confidence after shocking India in the group stage, after which they rocked South Africa. Andre Nel produced a special spell after he picked up a five-wicket haul and helped his team restrict Bangladesh to 251 for eight.

The Proteas had many batters who got into double digits, but somehow failed to carry on and make their starts count. Herschelle Gibbs scored 59 runs and stayed unbeaten before running out of partners.

South Africa vs Bangladesh, 2019, The Oval

Bangladesh again rolled over South Africa. This time the Proteas lost by 21 runs in their first match back in 2019 at the Kia Oval in London. Their bowlers faltered big time as the Tigers scored 330 for six on the back of half-centuries from Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.

It was evident that South Africa needed to put on a show with the bat to have any chance of winning. They made a promising start after Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram put on 49 runs for the opening wicket off 9.4 overs.

It all went smoothly for the Proteas when they needed 102 runs off 11 overs with six wickets in hand. From there on, the innings fell apart and South Africa huffed and puffed their way to 309 for eight in 20 overs.

South Africa vs Netherlands, 2022, Adelaide
Last year, South Africa lost a game in the T20 World Cup that eventually led to their elimination. They lost to the Netherlands by 13 runs at the Adelaide Oval. Their bowlers did a reasonable job of restricting the Dutch team to 158 for four.

Keshav Maharaj bowled brilliantly as he finished with figures of 4-0-27-2, picking up the wickets of Max O’Dowd and Tom Cooper. But in the run-chase, South Africa just could not get on top of their opponents.

Seven of their batters got into double digits, but none of them carried on. Rilee Rossouw was the only batter, who threatened to some extent with a 25-run knock at a strike-rate of 131.57.

It eventually was Roelof van der Merwe’s stupendous catch to dismiss David Miller that turned the match in favour of the Dutch team.

South Africa vs Netherlands, 2023, Dharamsala

The historic match took place on Tuesday at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. Rains in the World Cups have not been best friends with South Africa. On October 17, the Proteas lost to the Netherlands by 38 runs in a rain-curtailed 43-over match.

After opting to field first in favourable bowling conditions, South Africa restricted the Dutch team to 245 for eight. Marco Jansen was their standout bowler after he picked up two wickets and gave away only 27 runs in eight overs.

It was again in a run-chase that South Africa crumbled. Yet again, it was the wicket of Miller that turned out to be a crucial factor in the context of the game. Keshav Maharaj did score 40 runs, but it was only to mitigate the damage.