T20 World Cup 2024: So Near Yet So Far - South Africa And Their Cricket World Cup Heartbreaks

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2024 is a year to forget for South Africa in cricket as the Proteas suffered a double heartbreak in both the Men's and Women's T20 World Cup. This also prolonged the country's wait for a Cricket World Cup trophy.

While the men's team lost the title clash to India in June, the women's team suffered a 32-run loss in the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 final against New Zealand on Sunday (October 20).

The country would have hoped for fortunes to change after years of disappointments, but the curse remained as Laura Wolvaardt's side went down in the final against Sophie Devine's first-time champions at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.

Heartbreaks for South Africa in Cricket World Cups

This in fact was the South Africa women's cricket team's second successive Women's T20 World Cup final loss in the space of two years. The Protea women lost the 2023 final against Australia.

There are several heartbreak moments for South Africa, who are in search of the elusive ICC World Cup title, dating back to 1992, their first ever men's Cricket World Cup and the unforgetabble run to the semi-finals in many other editions.

The Protea men's team remained unbeaten in the 2023 ODI World Cup, but once again fell to eventual champions Australia in the semi-finals. Here is a look at South Africa's World Cup final heartbreaks:

Women's T20 World Cup 2023 Final

The South African women's cricket team created history by becoming the first team from the country to reach a World Cup final, but the Protea women failed to cross the final hurdle.

Although they restricted the mighty Australian women's team to 156/6 in the final, the South African side led Sune Luus only managed to score 137/6 in their allotted 20 overs to suffer a 19-run loss in the title clash at the Newlands in Cape Town on February 26, 2023.

Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Final

In their first-ever World Cup final, the South African men's team grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory after they lost to India in the final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29, 2024.

Chasing a record final total of 176, the Proteas were cruising to the target thanks to the onslaught by Heinrich Klaasen. But the familiar tag of chokers returned as the South Africa team led by Aiden Markram fell short by 7 runs despite needing 30 off 30 balls at one stage.

Women's T20 World Cup 2024 Final

Once again chasing the highest total for a win in the final, South African women's team failed to cross the line after they were restricted to 126/9 in their allotted 20 overs in Dubai on October 20, 2024.

Laura Wolvaardt's side did the impossible by knocking out pre-tournament favourites Australia in the semi-final to book a second successive final berth, but fell to the Aussie's trans-tasman neighbours New Zealand.

As mentioned earlier, the South African men's and women's teams have reached as far as the semi-final in several World Cups. While the men lost in the last four round in 1992, 1999, 2007, 2015 and 2023 ODI World Cups, they also lost in the semi-final of 2009 and 2014 T20 World Cups.

The women's team, on the other hand, reached as far as the semi-final in 2000, 2017 and 2022 50-Over World Cup, and they also lost in the last four stage in 2014 and 2020 T20 World Cups.

South Africa, however, have won one ICC trophy so far. The men's team won the ICC KnockOuts Trophy in 1998, beating West Indies in the final on November 1 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh.