They may have been dark horses for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the start but South Africa have stormed at the forefront of title contenders with a stunning show in the ongoing competition.
The ones whose batting order has wreaked absolute havoc, and whose bowling attack is equally terrifying with their pace options. The perennial contenders, yet the expected “chokers”. This is South Africa.
Of the eight cricket World Cups since 1992, they have reached the semi-finals in four, but have never proceeded to the finals. They “choked” in the crucial stages of their matches, especially the semis. This is their ninth cup and they are semi-finalists for the fifth time. And hopefully, sixth time is the charm as the Proteas will take on their dreaded rivals Australia in the second semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Follow all the action from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 including the World Cup schedule, World Cup 2023 results, and ICC Cricket World Cup points table. Players are vying to top the World Cup 2023 Most Runs and World Cup 2023 Most Wickets charts.
Let us take a look back at the road they traversed to get to the semi-final:
Game 1: South Africa vs Sri Lanka
SA: 428/5 (50 overs), SL: 326 all out (44.5 overs)
Result: SA won by 102 runs
The first match of the tournament is all about setting the tone and boy, did the Proteas set the tone for all to witness.
South Africa came out of the gate to showcase to the world why they possess the most feared batting line-up in world cricket currently as their top order took to and demolished Sri Lanka’s best bowlers.
Quinton de Kock, who announced that this would be his last foray into ODI cricket, truly began his final WC campaign on a high note, as the wicketkeeper-batter put up a quickfire 100 off 84 balls to get the ball rolling to the boundaries for South Africa.
But, the onslaught did not stop just there, as he was followed by the likes of both Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram who put up blazing centuries of their own to take South Africa to a mammoth total of 428, setting up the Lankans for a historic chase.
Credit to the Lankans though, as they put up a fairly respectable fight, yet it was nowhere near enough. South Africa’s pace trio of Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada tore through the Sri Lankan ranks and put them away at 326 runs altogether, thus clinching the opener by a margin of 102 runs.
Game 2: South Africa vs Australia
SA: 311/7 (50 overs), AUS: 177 all out (40.5 overs)
Result: SA won by 134 runs
The rivalry between the Aussies and the Proteas runs deep, and usually with Australia having the final laugh over the South Africans in the World Cup especially.
But, this was no meagre South African side they were facing. This was one of the most feared batting orders in world cricket. And boy, did the Proteas not stake their claim over the same in this bout.
De Kock struck a quickfire 109 – his second consecutive WC century, and helped set the stage for the Proteas. Then, it was time for the bowlers to pick off the Aussies one by one, as the South Africans bowled them out to a dismal 177 runs, led by Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj.
Game 3: Netherlands vs South Africa
NED: 245/8 (43 overs), AUS: 207 all out (42.5/43 overs)
Result: NED won by 38 runs
The South African attack was in full effect as the Proteas had dominated their opposition so far and were off to a 2-0 start to their WC campaign. And next up were the newcomers, Netherlands, who stood in their way.
Netherlands posed a respectable challenge to the South African bowlers. Despite their top order falling to the mighty Proteas early on, the Dutch middle-order was a thing of wonder for all to witness. Bolstered by a prolific 78* innings from skipper Scott Edwards and with rain playing spoilsport, the Dutch put up a commendable total of 245 runs in 43 overs.
Now, upon knowing the might of the South African batting order, to any onlooker this seemed like a simple enough job for the Proteas to execute. But, the South Africans’ lack of composure in chasing targets was exposed in this very match.
In an absolute shocker of a match, the Dutch bowlers picked off at the Proteas’ batter with ridiculous ease. And before one knew it, South Africa were five down for a meagre 89 runs.
The Proteas tried to salvage the game as a couple of key innings from both David Miller and Maharaj stabilized their batting order, but alas, it was meant to be the Dutch’s night. And so, with one ball remaining and victory looming in the horizons, Netherlands bowled out the Proteas and claimed a historic win against South Africa by 38 runs.
Game 4: South Africa vs England
SA: 399/7 (50 overs), ENG: 170 all out (22 overs)
Result: SA won by 229 runs
Coming off what one can arguably claim to be the biggest upset of the tournament, people had doubting South Africa’s legitimacy with respect to a title push. Was the flame of their fiery batting lineup extinguishing? Is this the South Africa of old, bracing themselves for the ‘chokejob’ which was ultimately incoming?
The Proteas paid no heed to the chatter, and as usual set to carry out the business as usual as they faced off against a depleted and demotivated England.
England, who were defending champions, themselves had the most disappointing start to their title defense, two embarrassing losses and one win in, it seemed like this was their opportunity to find their mojo and set off on a title push again. But, the Proteas quickly erased that notion from their minds as they set out to bat first.
South Africa were missing their skipper Temba Bavuma in action owing to a minor injury, but this gave way for opener Reeza Hendricks to make his stand on the biggest stage of all. And that is exactly what he set out to do.
Hendricks provided a styling start to the Proteas’ innings and helped get them off to a stellar start as he put up 85 runs off 75 balls. But, the best was yet to come. It was time for Klassen.
Klassen has risen to prominence in the past couple of years, with his swashbuckling attacking style of batting, and this day was no less as he went on a rampage against the English, scoring a wondrous 109 off just 69 balls.
Klassen’s blistering innings was followed up with a surprising yet welcome sight to the Proteas, as pacer Marco Jansen joined in on the party and smacked a stellar 75* off just 42 balls to guide South Africa to yet another mammoth total of 399 runs.
And what was the chance for England batters to take control, they collapsed yet again. The pacer trio of Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi and Jansen once again just scalped the English batters at will and wiped them away for a meagre 170 runs, clinching South Africa yet another impressive win by 229 runs. South Africa had proven that they were no one-hit wonder, but a multi-hit-worthy enigma for the world to witness.
Game 5: South Africa vs Bangladesh
SA: 382/5 (50 overs), ENG: 233 all out (46.4 overs)
Result: SA won by 149 runs
Once again, it was time for the De Kock show to arrive once again and it was business as usual for South Africa.
The Proteas stuck to their strengths and were up to bat first, and they made light work of a struggling Bangladesh.
De Kock’s fine form carried on as he posted his third WC century of the campaign, and Klassen retained his magic from last match onwards to add another fiery 90 runs to his name to help SA post a menacing total of 382 runs.
Yet again, South Africa’s pacers took care of the rest. Coetzee continued his wicket-taking streak as he cruised to another three-wicket haul and was supported by the duo of Jansen and Rabada, who aided SA in bowling out the clueless Bangladesh side for 233 runs, grabbing South Africa yet another resounding win by 149 runs.
Game 6: Pakistan vs South Africa
PAK: 270 (46.4 overs), AUS: 271/9 (47.2 overs)
Result: SA won by 1 wicket
Now, they were poised to face yet another perceived contender turned disappointment, Pakistan. Pakistan had a dismal start to their campaign, securing only one win out of their first four matches, and a historic loss to the Afghans, who had just absolutely dominated them from the first ball.
So, there was more than enough reason/incentive for Pakistan to pose a fight against the mighty South Africa, for they were fighting to keep their World Cup campaign alive. And fight, they did.
Pakistan started off poorly, falling victim to the wicket-taking prowess of an in-form Jansen and Coetzee, but they recuperated well through the middle as timely fifties from both skipper Babar Azam and middle-order batter Saud Shakeel, coupled with a quickfire 43 off 36 balls from Shadab Khan, helped put up a decent total of 270 runs.
On any other day, given the Proteas’ prominent batting order, one would argue that this is merely a cakewalk for them. But, South Africa’s lack of composure whilst chasing was exposed yet again.
With the exception of Aiden Markram, who posted a calculated 91 off 93 balls, the South African batting order failed to reproduce the magic they have done so on a regular basis.
In fact, the match went down to the wire as Pakistan scalped SA’s ninth wicket at 260 runs. Needing 11 runs with one wicket in hand, spinster Maharaj showcased some much-needed composure and played the match out to clinch a nail-biting win for the Proteas with just one wicket in hand. It was elation for South Africa and despair for Pakistan.
Game 7: South Africa vs New Zealand
SA: 357/4 (50 overs), AUS: 167 all out (35.3 overs)
Result: SA won by 190 runs
New Zealand posed an interesting challenge to South Africa. The Kiwis started off the tournament more prolifically than anyone else, posting four consecutive dominant wins and topping the group table. But, prior to facing the Proteas, they had suffered two debilitating losses, one to hosts India where they were completely ousted and another to their Oceanic rivals Australia in a thriller.
The Kiwis’ dry streak though would continue to persist in this occasion as well, as South Africa once again stuck to their guns and opted to bat first. And we all know what that meant: business as usual.
De Kock was nowhere near walking out of ODI cricket in silence, as the swashbuckling opener posted his 4th century of the World Cup campaign in a composed innings of 114 runs off 116 balls. Afterwards, his counterpart Van der Dussen, who had gone silent in the previous couple of matches, stepped up once again and smacked the Kiwi bowlers all over the field en route to his stellar 133 off 118 balls. Finally with the help of a classic quickfire fifty from veteran Miller down the order, SA posted yet another gargantuan total of 357 runs for New Zealand to chase.
This was truly not the Kiwis’ day, as their top batters such as Rachin Ravindra and Darryl Mitchell fell short, along with most of their batting lineup as Maharaj wove magic with his deliveries, snatching a four-wicket haul, as the Proteas bowled out their opposition for a mere 167 runs. The South Africans were once again in full form, and claimed a 190 run win to take their extend their run in the competition to to 6-1.
Game 8: India vs South Africa
IND: 326/5 (50 overs), AUS: 83 all out (27.1 overs)
Result: IND won by 243 runs
South Africa had experienced the highest of highs, and now it was time for them to have a taste of their own medicine, as hosts India came into the fixture undefeated in the tournament. This was the Proteas’ ultimate litmus test, No.1 going against No.2. This was the chance for them to prove that they were the most legitimate threat to India’s unfaltering dominance.
But, it turned out to be nightmare.
India played to the Proteas’ biggest weakness so far: chasing down targets. Although the Indians themselves are notorious for being some of the finest chasemasters, skipper Rohit Sharma sought the opportunity to test the waters and took his chance, forcing SA to bat second. But, first they had to get through the fiery pace trio of SA.
To say that India made light work of the South African bowling attack, would be an understatement. Except for Rabada’s disciplined spell, everyone else was fair game for India to attack and demolish.
Bolstered and led by the evergreen talisman batter Virat Kohli, India kept on piling the misery on SA, as they battered the Proteas at will. Jansen, who had been in exquisite form so far in the tournament, particularly struggled in this outing as he posted his worst spell so far, giving up 94 runs in just 9.4 overs with one wicket to show for it all.
And to add insult to injury, Kohli achieved what was once deemed the impossible on this occasion — he equalled the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most ODI centuries, as he posted his 49th ODI hundred en route to his 101* against South Africa.
The Proteas were hungry to rain down on Kohli’s special occasion and to take the spotlight away from him. But, the Indians never gave them the space to even attempt something like that.
South Africa’s chasing woes continued as India’s bowlers stomped over their batting order with ease. Ravindra Jadeja mesmerized the crowd and the SA batting line-up as he picked up a magical fifer, and the rest of the Indian bowling attack helped him finish off the Proteas, who were bowled out for an insulting 83 runs, and lost the bout against the hosts in some fashion by a whopping 243 runs.
Game 9: Afghanistan vs South Africa
AFG: 244 (50 overs), SA: 247/5 (47.3 overs)
Result: SA won by 5 wickets
Afghanistan were in dire need of a win to pose a fighting chance to make the semi-final. And they were in need of a massive victory to do so. Unfortunately for them, Gerald Coetzee had other plans.
Gerald Coetzee (4-44) and Keshav Maharaj (2-25) had ensured Afghanistan could only make 244 in 50 overs. In fact, the target could’ve been much less had it not been for Azmatullah Omarzai’s unbeaten 97 that expertly held the crumbling Afghanistan innings together.
And when it came to chasing down the target, a 62-ball partnership of 65 between Van der Dussen and Andile Phehlukwayo shepherded South Africa to a win against Afghanistan in their last league-stage game of the 2023 ODI World Cup, ensuring they didn’t stutter in a tricky chase before their semi-final against Australia.
Phehlukwayo came in as the No. 7 with South Africa needing 63 but with Afghanistan’s spinners then possessing the game’s momentum. Phehlukwayo finished the game in classic swashbuckling South African fashion with 6, 4, 6 to finish unbeaten on 39 while van der Dussen controlled the chase with his 76* of 95 balls.
Follow all the action from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 including the World Cup schedule, World Cup 2023 results, and ICC Cricket World Cup points table. Players are vying to top the World Cup 2023 Most Runs and World Cup 2023 Most Wickets charts.
And that is the tale of how South Africa’s group stage ended, with a fine total of seven wins out of nine, snatching a second-place finish with 14 points.
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