Seven semi-final heartbreaks later, it’s a World Cup Final for South Africa

The curse has been broken. The barrier, which seemed impossible to break, has been breached. 

33 years after their first white-ball game, back in 1991 against India, the South African Men’s side have finally managed to make it to the final of a World Cup.

The Proteas have endured three decades of heartbreaks — across formats. Their first semi-final appearance in a World Cup came back in 1992, where they lost to England by 19 runs in a controversial fashion. It was *that* infamous clash in which they needed 22 off 1 ball after rain interruption forced a revised target, which was dubious.

Then came the biggest of heartbreaks, in the semi-final of the 1999 World Cup at the hands of Australia, where they exited the competition in gut-wrenching fashion following a tie against the Kangaroos. 

They then slipped to three more semi-final defeats, in 2007 (50-over), 2009 (T20WC) and 2014 (T20WC) before blowing their best-ever opportunity to make it to the final, in the 2015 World Cup in Australia & New Zealand. There, South Africa’s golden generation had the semi-final clash against hosts New Zealand pretty much in the bag but ended up slipping to a horror defeat that was on par with the 1999 heartbreak. 

Then came the defeat at the hands of the Aussies (again) in the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final in Kolkata. Once again, the Proteas came short in a 50-50 contest that could so easily have swung their way. 

But, led by Aiden Markram, South Africa have finally managed to break new ground at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad.

It’s a maiden World Cup final appearance, and they will enter Saturday’s final having won eight on the bounce. No team in T20WC history have won as many games as this South African side have (8) in a single T20WC edition. Should they triumph in Barbados and go all the way, the Proteas will become the first team ever to win the T20 World Cup title unbeaten. 

South Africa played thriller after thriller across the group stages and the Super 8s but produced their most clinical performance of this T20WC, yet, in the semi-final against Afghanistan in Trinidad. They lost the toss and were forced to bowl first, but blew away Afghanistan in sensational fashion, bowling out the first-time semi-finalists for 56, the lowest total in a knockout game in World Cup history. 

Then they needed only 53 balls to chase the target as they romped home, losing a solitary wicket. 

South Africa will take on either India or England in the final at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, on June 29 (Saturday). 

For South Africa, as a nation, overall, it’s two T20WC finals in the span of two years. Last year, the South Africa Women created history by making it to the summit clash of the mega event at home. There, however, they fell short in the finale as Australia registered a 19-run victory.