On this day in 2003: Rain ensures South Africa’s tragic exit from World Cup at home

The tag of ‘chokers’ at major ICC events still persists for South Africa and one of the games that gave them this tag took place exactly on this day at the 2003 World Cup. Since their readmission in 1991, South Africa boasted of a strong ODI side but were failing to deliver the goods at the biggest stage. In the 1992 World Cup, a shocking rain-rule saw them crash out and in 1999, they stumbled on the cusp of qualification to the final after a heartbreaking run-out.

Thus when South Africa hosted the 2003 World Cup, the hopes were sky-high. The Shaun Pollock-led side were positive about erasing the bitter memories of the past. But in the end, the Proteas suffered their most heartbreaking, cruel and unfortunate exit from a World Cup till date as rain and wrong calculation dashed their dream once again. They were up against Sri Lanka in their final league game and needed a victory to progress through to the Super Sixes.

Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya won the toss and decided to bat first. The Island nation posted a competitive total of 268 thanks to a century from their opener Marvan Atapattu and Aravinda de Silva’s 73. Scoring 269 under the lights at Durban was a tricky affair but Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith calmed down the nerves in the South Africa dressing room by starting well with the bat. The duo added 65 runs in just 11 overs before de Silva dismissed Smith.

Gary Kirsten and Jacques Kallis could not stay for long as the hosts found themselves reeling at 124 for 3. Then at 149/5, Pollock and Mark Boucher steadied the ship. They added 63 for the sixth wicket to take their side to 212 for six before the South Africa skipper was brilliantly run out by Muralitharan. Lance Klusener and Boucher then took the Proteas to 229 for six after 45 overs when persistent rain forced the players off.

This is when the drama and the heartbreak began for South Africa as it soon emerged that the match would end in a tie if the players were unable to return. Boucher had struck Muralitharan for six on the penultimate delivery to take the score to 229. Boucher as well as the crowd celebrated after the six, thinking that the work was done. But the celebrations were certainly premature as South Africa needed one more than the par score to register a win.

The next delivery, Boucher worked it around the mid-wicket for no runs believing that he had done the job for his side.

As the delivery was being bowled, Tony Greig said on air: “If they don’t get back on, they need one more run. They are probably aware of it.”

Boucher and Klusener, however, had miscalculated and Pollock’s reaction in the dressing room said it all. The distraught South Africa captain held his face in disappointment as Boucher and Klusener walked back.

The umpires returned to the pitch around 35 minutes later and asked the ground staff to remove the covers but within moments the heavens opened again and the officials left the field for the last time. The must-win match for the home side ended in a tie under the D/L method as the Proteas exited another World Cup in a disappointing manner.