World Cup Farces- A look into South Africa’s previous failings - Part 1 - Opinion
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Holly-Louise-Colvin-c63292 off one’s back is not easy for the Proteas, who have hit ground zero more than often.
Their record of failing in major tournaments such as the Cricket World Cup has maligned to the point of being labeled as ‘chokers’ by erudite commentators, their opponents and even passionate supporters. Yet what needs to be understood with a team such as
South Africa, is that despite their wealth of talent and ability to self detonate when the going gets tough, they have had their share of bad luck which has had a bearing on their performances in major tournaments.
Hard luck hit them in 1992, when they contested the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 and were amongst the favourites in that tournament. Their bowling and fielding prowess was regarded as the best in the world and they were considered as fierce competitors
who would not go down without a fight. South Africa had a fantastic tournament where players such as Alan Donald came into the limelight. Most of the teams that they encountered were kept at bay. After reaching the semi finals of the tournament, disaster struck.
It was against England at the SCG where the rather absurd Duckworth Lewis rules opened up, which left the Proteas needing a ridiculous 22 runs off just 1 delivery to qualify for the final. Given the manner in which South Africa played in that tournament, it
seemed plausible that they would have provided a stiff challenge to a buoyant http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Auckland-c766, and were contesting the final. It wasn’t to be, and South Africa crashed out of the tournament after
the heavens opened up.
Then came the 1996 cricket world cup in the subcontinent, with the Proteas ranked amongst the most consistent teams in the world. The backward point prowess of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Daryll-John-Cullinan-c52537
were recognised as genuine threats on placid wickets by their oppositions. South Africa did well to qualify for the quarterfinals, where they managed to beat teams like Pakistan, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 to reach the all important knock out stage at Karachi.
They were pitted up against a powerful http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Richard-Benjamin-Richardson-c84890 had won the toss and elected to bat first on a fantastic batting wicket. After initially having the West Indies in a quagmire, South Africa witnessed a brutal
display of power hitting by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/S-Chanderpaul-c2390, who used their tight bowling to their own advantage. Lara smashed a magnificent 111 off just 94 deliveries with 16 boundaries which helped the West Indies post a score of 264, which was a match
winning effort in those days. For the South Africans, this task seemed to be a bit too much as they unfolded to just 245 in their chase. This time the heavens did not open up and it was their own idiocy which was to blame.
Those past two performances were indicative of the potential that South Africa had and their status as being possible World Cup champions.
Continued in part 2...
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