Halfway by means of the South African innings, the phrase ‘chokers’ was trending on social media because the Proteas suffered a less-than-ideal begin to their World Cup semifinal towards Australia, being diminished to 24/4 within the twelfth over. Whether or not they prefer it or not, the ‘chokers’ tag has been the albatross round South African necks for many years, and Friday was one other event after they tripped over on the knockout hurdle.
Head coach Rob Walter, nonetheless, refused to acknowledge the tag, saying, “You have to outline what choking is. For me, a choke is shedding a sport which you have been ready to win. Right here, we have been behind the 8-ball proper from the phrase go and truly fought our approach again into the competitors and put up a rating that gave us an opportunity, after which they obtained off to a flier. So, how we fought and put ourselves again into the sport, for me, that’s nothing even remotely near a choke on the market. Only a critical contest between two good groups.”
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Friday’s outcome was the most recent within the lengthy listing of shut encounters within the World Cup that South Africa can have nightmares about, becoming a member of the likes of the 1999 tied semifinal towards Australia, the 2003 DLS debacle the place they went out of the event at residence within the group stage, shedding within the 2007 semifinals and 2011 quarterfinals to Australia and New Zealand respectively. Within the 2015 semifinals, they misplaced to New Zealand once more whereas they didn’t qualify for the knockout stage in 2019.
The curse continued in 2023 as South Africa initially wilted beneath strain with the bat and by the point they mustered the energy to battle again with David Miller’s century and their spinners’ splendid efficiency, it was too little too late.
The runs on the board fell quick and Australia, after a number of minor hiccups, trudged to one more knockout victory towards their previous foes.