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South Africa And Heartbreak: 3 Times Rain Spoiled Their ICC Trophy Campaign

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

AB de Villiers after World Cup 2015 Semi-final exit [Source: @timesofindia/x.com]AB de Villiers after World Cup 2015 Semi-final exit [Source: @timesofindia/x.com]

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South Africa were all set to take on Australian in the seventh match of the Champions Trophy 2025. However, rain has played spoil sport and has delayed the toss at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. 

With rain interrupting South Africa's games in an ICC event, incidents off the weather spoiling their party comes to mind. Here are three times rain played a shattered hopes of South Africa in an ICC event. 

3. World Cup 2015, Semi-final: South Africa vs New Zealand

South Africa batted first in the game. They were proceeding well with their innings. But the fact that they were playing it like a 50-over game turned against them.

Rain interrupted play during the 37th over of the South African innings. They were stationed at 216/3 at the stage. When play started, the match got reduced to a 43 overs per side game and South Africa had only six overs left in their innings.

In the last six overs, South Africa scored 65 runs and posted a total of 281 in 43 overs. The target was adjusted to 298 for New Zealand. 

It was a great batting track and in the end the loss of momentum due to rain proved costly for South Africa. New Zealand chased down the target with one ball remaining and seven wickets to spare.

2. World Cup 2003, Group Stage: South Africa vs Sri Lanka

Mark Boucher in 2003 World Cup [Source: @JohnyBravo183/x.com]Mark Boucher in 2003 World Cup [Source: @JohnyBravo183/x.com]

Another rain interrupted affair for South Africa and once more a heartbreak form them. During their last group stage match in World Cup 2003 against Sri Lanka, South Africa needed 230 runs in 45 overs to win the match and progress to the next round.

Mark Boucher, who was out in the middle got the message that they need 229 to win and hence pushed the last ball before rain interruption to the leg side softly. The two teams failed to return to the field after that and the game ended in a tie ending South Africa's campaign.

1. World Cup 1992, Semi Final: South Africa vs England

South Africa's exit in World Cup 1992 [Source: @talksports45/x.com]South Africa's exit in World Cup 1992 [Source: @talksports45/x.com]

In their first-ever World Cup, South Africa looked well set to play in the summit clash. They were on course to chase down a target of 253 runs in 45 overs and needed 22 runs off 13 deliveries, when rain interrupted the game.

In a dramatic and shocking turn of events, when the match resumed South Africa needed 21 runs from one ball. This spelled disaster for the team as they had to take a heart breaking exit from the tournament. The event led to the re-analysis of the rain rule and eventually the current Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method was introduced.