For decades, the term “chokers” became synonymous with South African cricket. Tournament after tournament, the Proteas entered as contenders and exited as a cautionary tale. It wasn’t just the losses—it was how they lost: dramatic collapses, poor calculations, rain rules, and moments of madness that defined an entire generation of heartbreak.
But now, in 2025, the narrative has finally changed.
On a bright day at Lord’s, South Africa lifted the World Test Championship mace, ending a 27-year drought for ICC silverware and rewriting their cricketing destiny. From crushing defeats to clutch performances, here’s a deep dive into how South Africa finally broke their World Cup curse—and the painful path that led them there.
The Ghosts of Past World Cups
1999 World Cup Semi-Final vs Australia: The Run-Out Heard Around the World
In the semi-final at Edgbaston, South Africa were chasing 214 and were down to their last pair. Lance Klusener was in top form and smashed two boundaries off the first two balls of the final over, leveling the scores.
With just one run needed from four balls, Klusener called for a suicidal run on the fourth delivery. Allan Donald, caught off guard, hesitated. Donald dropped his bat, chaos ensued, and the Aussies pounced. The match ended in a tie, and Australia advanced to the final due to a superior Super Six net run rate. South Africa was left stunned.
2003 World Cup Group Stage vs Sri Lanka: Misread the Message
Hosting the tournament, South Africa faced Sri Lanka in a rain-hit group match. With the Duckworth-Lewis method in play, Mark Boucher thought he had done enough after hitting a six. But in a miscommunication with team analysts, he blocked the next delivery.
South Africa had tied the par score—not surpassed it. The match ended in a tie, and they were eliminated on home soil. A brutal blow, made worse by the fact that it was self-inflicted.
2011 World Cup Quarter-Final vs New Zealand: The Collapse
Chasing just 222, South Africa were 108/2 and seemingly cruising. But when pressure hit, the old ghosts returned. AB de Villiers was run out, and the rest of the lineup collapsed to 172 all out. New Zealand didn’t win it as much as South Africa lost it. Another quarter-final exit. Another missed opportunity.
2015 World Cup Semi-Final vs New Zealand: Dropped Catches, Broken Hearts
After scoring 281 in a rain-shortened 43-over semi-final, South Africa had New Zealand under pressure. With 30 needed off 18 balls, South Africa dropped critical catches. Grant Elliott, with five needed from two balls, smashed Dale Steyn for six.
The Proteas watched in horror as their dream was crushed once again. The tears of Morne Morkel and AB de Villiers reflected a nation’s pain.
2022 T20 World Cup vs Netherlands: Shock of All Shocks
Needing only to beat the Netherlands to qualify for the semi-finals, South Africa folded under pressure. Chasing 159, they were well-placed at 90/4 in 13 overs, but suffered a dramatic collapse to finish at 145/8.
It was one of the most unexpected defeats in World Cup history—and yet, sadly, not out of character for the Proteas.
2024 T20 World Cup Final vs India: So Close, Yet Again
South Africa restricted India to 176 and were in command during the chase. Heinrich Klaasen’s blistering 52 off 27 balls had them needing just 30 off 28. But Klaasen’s dismissal sparked panic.
With 16 needed off 6 balls, David Miller went for glory on the first delivery but was caught brilliantly by Suryakumar Yadav at long-off. The dream died again—this time just 7 runs short.
A New Dawn: World Test Championship Final 2025 at Lord’s
After decades of pain, South Africa finally broke the curse.
Facing Australia at Lord’s in the World Test Championship Final, the Proteas chased down 280 in the fourth innings, winning by 8 wickets. This wasn’t just another victory. It was redemption—hard-earned, long-awaited, and deeply emotional.
What the Players Said: Rewriting History in Their Own Words
Temba Bavuma – Captain
“It’s been a special couple of days. At some point, it felt like we were back in South Africa, with all the support in the stands.
We’ve prepared hard for this, we’ve worked hard for this moment. We came here with a lot of belief, also a lot of doubters, and we were able to play well enough to get that type of result.
We’ve been knocking at that door, being relentless, getting ourselves into positions where we can be in finals. We’ve gone through the heartache, the disappointment. The sun is on us at the moment, and we’ve been carrying that responsibility. Hopefully, this is one of many.”
Aiden Markram – Player of the Match
“It’s weird how things work out. I got a duck in the first innings and came into the second innings with quite a few concerns.
Lord’s is the place every Test cricketer wants to play. To play a final here is incredibly special. The fans—both here and back home—were phenomenal. It was one of the most special days of my life.”
Kyle Verreynne – Hit the Winning Runs
“I was watching the morning session thinking, ‘Please, I don’t want to go bat.’ When I did, I was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been.
I’ll probably get emotional now—we’ve had a tough time as South African cricketers. To hear people in the streets singing, to feel that support… it’s incredible.”
David Bedingham – At the Crease with Verreynne
“I didn’t feel calm going in, but the way Aiden and Temba batted made us believe. Thank goodness we got over the line. We’re thankful to everyone here and everyone watching back home.”
Marco Jansen – Waiting to Bat
“There were a lot of nerves in the change room. But to hear the fans cheer every single ball—it kept us going.
Aiden was unbelievable. He and Temba fought tooth and nail. That’s what dreams are made of.”
Kagiso Rabada – 9 Wickets in the Match
“I can’t describe in words how I feel—just extremely happy. We planned well, worked hard, and deserved this.
People said we weren’t strong enough opposition. That’s rubbish. We beat one of the best teams in the world, and we did it on our A-game.”
Keshav Maharaj – Emotional Reflection
“It’s special. Tears probably describe what we feel right now.
The unity we’ve shown throughout this season—it reflects what our country is about. We honour those who came before us, those who paved the way. May this just be the beginning of greater things.”
Ryan Rickelton – Opened the Final Innings
“Chasing 280 in the fourth innings of a Final is never easy. I was nervous, but the pitch got better, and we stayed positive. Aiden’s innings was one of the greatest I’ve ever seen.”
Lungi Ngidi – Devastating Second-Innings Spell
“I’m speechless. Very proud of the boys. It’s been a long journey, and the blood pressure’s high, but we did it. That’s what matters.”
For 27 years, South Africa’s relationship with ICC tournaments has been defined by heartbreak. But in June 2025, under the overcast skies of Lord’s, they rewrote their legacy.
This wasn’t just a cricket match. It was the culmination of decades of pain, self-doubt, near misses, and redemption. The Proteas, long branded as “chokers,” are now World Test Champions—and no one can take that away from them.
