South Africa turn unconventional to overcome twin-chase hoodoos
There was no shortage of the customary ingredients that one would associate with a World Cup knockout game featuring South Africa - questionable decision at the toss, dropped catches, a rain delay, and an error-filled run-chase. Yet, as has been the case throughout the 2024 T20 World Cup, the climax of this all-too-familiar script has continually been one of jubilation rather than the usual anguish.
While each of the past victories had several reasons that just titled the games in their favor, the win in the virtual quarter-final against the West Indies can be attributed to a quality the Proteas have rarely exhibited in their one-dimensional World Cup history - 'Being Unconventional.'
If skipper Aiden Markram winning the toss and electing to field was a shell shock to those up to date with South Africa's wrecked record in run-chases of crucial games, what followed was further incomprehensible.
Picture this - After 8 overs of the West Indian batting innings:
Aiden Makram - 4-0-28-1
Kagiso Rabada - 0-0-0-0
Fast forward until the end of the 17th over, and Rabada still hadn't bowled a ball yet. It had fans wondering what was going on, with many questioning the rationale of not using the most accomplished bowler in the South African ranks but bowling out the part-time off-spin of Markram.
Until 16 overs, the Proteas used 12 overs of spin with their troika of Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Markram and only four overs of pace. Who could have predicted South Africa, of all teams, being this spin-dominant in such a crucial World Cup game?
Yet, skipper Makram knew exactly what he was onto, as the spinners combined for outstanding figures of 5/79 in 12 overs to eventually restrict the West Indies to only 135 in 20 overs.
Maybe, this was the air of unpredictability, quick adaptability, and unconventional wisdom that stopped some of the much stronger South African sides of the past short of ultimate glory.
We will never have a concrete answer to that, yet, for now, the current lot have displayed a side to them, at least in their bowling stint, like seldom before - 'High-risk-high reward unconventional methods' to maximize success in crunch moments.
Dual 'Chase' haunts Proteas in unconvincing yet satisfactory victory
For all the praise bestowed upon the South Africa side for their bowling display and brilliant tactics in their victory over the West Indies, their chase for a maiden World Cup title could have been 'chased' out several times during the game.
The Proteas dropped simple catches off Kyle Mayers and Roston Chase inside the powerplay and both batters made them pay. Mayers finished with a 34-ball 35, while Chase led the West Indian batting with a highly impressive 52 off 42 deliveries.
Coming to the chase, a word that has haunted South Africa like clockwork in past World Cup failures, the batters tried their level best to hand back the advantage to the West Indians on numerous occasions. If their chasing frailties weren't enough, Roston Chase pulled off an all-timer with his all-round showing.
Chasing just 136, South Africa blazed away to 12/0 after the opening over. However, never one to ease the pressure on themselves and their fans, they lost two wickets in the second over to fall to 15/2. Then came the rain, a default in any pivotal South African World Cup clash, and a debate on whether it helped South Africa or the West Indies is still ongoing in the cricketing community.
Yet, post resumption, Markram's side seized control and raced to 41/2 in five overs, with only 82 needed off 72 deliveries in a rain-reduced run-chase of 123 in 17 overs. Just knocking the singles and twos with the odd boundary was the order of the day from that position, but, that won't be South Africa, would it?
The skipper himself perished in the next over, skying one up in an attempt for the glamor shot over common sense. Nevertheless, 42/3 quickly turned to 70/3 in seven overs, with a mere 53 required off 60 balls.
Surely, South Africa ran with this one, right? No again. The batters kept playing big shots when least called for to throw away their starts to the point where the equation read 23 off 23 with four wickets in hand.
All the ghosts of the past were firmly taking center stage in another vital South African World Cup game. Yet, pace-bowling all-rounders Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada unleased a rarely-seen clutch gene in the side's run-chasing history and stunned the home crowd by pulling off victory in the first ball of the final over.
Skipper Aiden Markram was visibly more relieved than delighted at the post-match presentation, thanks to the batters almost botching up a straightforward run-chase.
"Lot of relief to get through to the semifinal. We would have liked to be a lot more convincing. The wicket was playing nicely after the rain break but we tried to kill the game too early. It put us in a tricky position but happy to get over the line. We could have build a partnership after the break and then take it from there, we will take that learning and hopefully not do that same mistake again," said Makram.
Apart from conquering their chasing woes, South Africa also had to weather the Roston Chase storm thrown at them.
The ever-reliable off-spinning all-rounder added 52 with the willow by bagging three wickets in the South African run-chase. A spell of 3/12 in 3 over single-handedly wrecked the Proteas from a comfortable 93/4 to 110/7, relighting the fire in the West Indian ranks and the crowd.
It wasn't perfect, yet, it rarely has been for South Africa in this World Cup as they scratched and clawed their way to another gutsy win to clinch a semi-final spot.
An Un-South African path to semi-final has World Cup breakthrough within touching distance
Often associated with terms like unlucky, chokers, and mentally fragile in World Cups, the Proteas have converted those into fortunate and clutch thus far in the ongoing tournament.
South Africa's unbeaten run in the 2024 T20 World Cup has been so different from their past runs to the semi-final of ICC events. For starters, they have managed to have the 50-50 calls go their way, contrary to the norm, culminating with the rain and the wet ball eliminating the West Indian spin threat in their latest outing.
The Proteas have also recorded their joint-longest winning streak in T20Is with seven, the same number of games they have won in the tournament without a loss. Seven wins is also the most by any side in a T20 World Cup and South Africa have won almost equally batting first and chasing.
All seven or at least five of those games were humdingers, a spot South Africa have often failed in World Cups for decades.
It makes us throw the same question that has been asked infinite times over the years- 'Is this South Africa's World Cup breakthrough'? Only this time, it feels different. It feels like a 'meant to be' moment, and winning nine consecutive games and going through the tournament unbeaten will only make the title taste even sweeter.