The Proteas’ class of 2024 has done what no other South African side were able to do before – qualify for the final of a major International Cricket Council event.
South Africa have advanced to the semi-finals of a Twenty20 World Cup three times (2009, 2014 and 2024) in nine attempts, and the last four of a Cricket World Cup on five occasions (1992, 1999, 2007, 2015 and 2023) in nine tries.
But this is the very first time the Rainbow Nation have progressed to a grand finale in either of the T20 World Cup or 50-over World Cup.
South Africa have been known to produce brilliant sides in the past but what is different about the 2024 batch is the ability to close out hard-fought games consistently.
Against the Netherlands in the group stage, the Proteas were struggling on 12/4 chasing 104 before David Miller (59 not out) and Tristan Stubbs (33) bailed them out.
In the very next match against Bangladesh, South Africa just about kept their head above water and managed a narrow four-run win, which was followed by another closely-fought one-run victory over Nepal.
The narrow-escape acts continued in the Super Eights as well as USA’s sixth-wicket partnership almost snatched a famous triumph before eventually falling short, while defending champions England and co-hosts West Indies also ended up on the losing side after the Proteas aced the clutch moments.
Now, the unbeaten Proteas are on an incredible eight-match winning run and have just one more game left between themselves and glory.
Decades of semi-final hurt
After a few close calls, the crushing nine-wicket success against Afghanistan in Thursday’s (BST) T20 World Cup semi-final in Trinidad will not only provide the South African fans a lot of joy but also relief following some near misses in the recent and distant past.
And a semi-final does not get any more intense than the 1999 One Day International World Cup meeting between Australia and South Africa, still remembered fondly to this day by cricket aficionados as one of the greatest 50-over matches ever played.
But crucially, Lance Klusener and Allan Donald lost their heads in a pressure-cooker situation to leave Hansie Cronje’s charges stunned, and subsequently out of the tournament.
Inclement weather has also proved to be South Africa’s undoing, most famously in the 1992 ODI World Cup and as recently as the 2015 edition when the Proteas’ side were stacked with world-class talents; Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn and Mornel Morkel to name but a few.
Batting first in the last four encounter, the Proteas were 281/5 in 43 overs, and all set to add a bucketload of runs in the last seven overs at the smallish Eden Park ground in Auckland.
But then rain intervened, ending South Africa’s innings and giving the Kiwis a gettable revised target via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
Sometimes luck deserted the South Africans, on instances mother nature denied them, but at times the Proteas were the architects of their own downfall, like in the 2007 50-over World Cup semi-final when the tie was as good as over after the side, taking first guard, were dismissed for a paltry 149.
Markram and Co on verge of more history
Now that Aiden Markram and his troops have made history by qualifying for their first ever World Cup final, they will be eyeing even more glory in Saturday’s finale in Barbados, against India or England.
And they certainly have the arsenal to do it.
Led by Markram, the South African batting unit boasts power-hitters Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen and Miller who can not only clear the boundaries with ease but also grind their teeth, stay at the wicket and rotate the strike in the event of a bowling-friendly pitch.
The bowling attack is also packed with star performers in pacemen Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada and wily slow bowlers in the shape of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi.
But South Africa’s best asset is perhaps their excellent and electric fielding.
However, given the Proteas’ chequered history of chokes and falling apart, one person in particular will have to play the most important role Saturday – Aiden Kyle Markram.
The stylish right-handed batter will have to keep his cool, lead the side from the front and guide his teammates in crunch situations.
He has already surpassed the likes of Cronje, Shaun Pollock, Graeme Smith and De Villiers by inspiring his team to uncharted territory.
Now, Markram will be looking to complete the final step and lift South Africa’s maiden silverware in a major ICC event.
