South Africa hope history does not repeat itself

WORLD CUP: South Africa have reasons to believe that they deserve better than just two semi-final finishes in the World Cup since their maiden appearance in 1992.

They are now in the semi-finals for the third time, with skipper Graeme Smith hoping to do better than his predecessors Kepler Wessels and Hansie Cronje who were unlucky not to lead their sides into the final.

Misfortune has become synonymous with South Africa ever since they were asked to score an absurd 21 off just one delivery in the 1992 semi-final against England in a rain-hit match in Sydney.

They were also involved in a pair of tied matches in 1999 and 2003, which eventually led to their ouster before the final. Wessels’s South Africans did remarkably well when they qualified for the semi-finals on their first Cup appearance after more than two decades of isolation due to apartheid.

The tournament was jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand and had all the trappings of a modern event coloured clothing, floodlights, white balls and black sightscreens. But Wessels’s team were not amused because it also had a ridiculous ‘rain rule’.

Rain interrupted South Africa’s chase when they required 22 to win off 13 balls. The target was revised to 21 off just one ball when the game resumed..

Gros Islet, St Lucia, Tuesday AFP