3 times when rain knocked South Africa out of ICC events

South Africa, rain, and ICC tournaments, this trio has never sat well together. Time and again, history has shown that rain has played the villain for South Africa in ICC events. This topic has once again gained attention following the recent abandoned match between South Africa and Australia. With calculations now going regarding how things will shape up for Group B teams in the Champions Trophy, all eyes are on South Africa’s fate.

Having already secured a win against Afghanistan, South Africa now faces a crucial scenario. If their last group-stage match against England ends in a defeat, their semi-final hopes will no longer be in their hands, as net run rate equations could come into play. Although they are currently sitting on top, things can change quickly in this unpredictable tournament. There is no doubt that rain has shattered the Proteas’ dreams multiple times in ICC events. So, what are those incidents that still feel fresh and continue to haunt South African fans like a dark nightmare?

Times when rain knocked South Africa out of ICC events

1992 World Cup Semi Final

It was the year 1992 when the Proteas made their World Cup debut. Kepler Wessels and his team emerged as a surprise package, as not many expected much from them. However, they performed exceptionally well and qualified for the semi-finals against England. They impressed with the ball, restricting England to 252 runs while also taking six wickets.

When South Africa came to bat, they had the game under control, needing just 22 runs off 13 balls. Brian McMillan and wicketkeeper David Richardson were at the crease, and with their experience, it seemed likely that they would steer the team to victory. However, rain intervened, and when the match resumed, what players and fans saw on the big screen left everyone in shock—the equation had suddenly changed to 21 runs required off just one ball due to the controversial lowest-scoring-over rain rule.

McMillan could only tap Chris Lewis’ final delivery for a single, and the Proteas lost the game by 19 runs. The dramatic turn of events came as a massive shock to every player on the ground.

2003 World Cup

South Africa once again fell victim to rain in a do-or-die group match against Sri Lanka. The Lions opted to bat first, and thanks to Marvan Atapattu’s brilliant 124-run knock, they posted a total of 268 runs.

The Proteas gave their all in the chase and were well in contention at 229 for 6, with legendary batter Mark Boucher and Lance Klusener at the crease. They needed 40 runs off the final 30 balls when rain, South Africa’s nemesis in ICC tournaments, came. The match was eventually abandoned, and both teams shared a point.

As a result, South Africa finished with 14 points and were eliminated from the tournament, while Kenya progressed to the Super Sixes and eventually made a run to the semi-finals.

2022 T20 World Cup

The most recent incident occurred during the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. It is fair to say that whenever a ICC tournament is held in this country, Proteas fans tend to get nervous, given South Africa’s history with rain-affected matches here.

Once again, rain played spoilsport when South Africa faced Zimbabwe in their opening match. The game was initially reduced to a nine-over contest due to a lengthy delay. Batting first, Zimbabwe posted 79 runs. The Proteas got off to a strong start in their chase, but rain interrupted play again in the second over, leading to a revised target of 64 runs in seven overs.

South Africa were well ahead of the DLS par score and seemed to be cruising towards victory. However, another rain stoppage halted play, and the match was eventually abandoned. As a result, both teams shared a point, which ultimately hurt the Proteas. They finished third in their group, missing out on a semi-final spot as England and New Zealand advanced.

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