Sydney, March 17: South African captain AB de Villiers has said on the eve of his team's quarter-final clash with Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Wednesday that South Africa will not choke this time.

" title="2015 WC: Quarter-finals line-up; Lasith Malinga almost took 5 wickets in 5 balls against SA in 2007 WC" />2015 WC: Quarter-finals line-up; Lasith Malinga almost took 5 wickets in 5 balls against SA in 2007 WC

But history has not been kind to the Proteas, considered the best team to have never reached even the final of the quadrennial tournament since joining the quadrennial tournament in 1992.

In fact, the South Africans have never won a knock-out game in the six World Cup editions they have played so far.

Here is a look at South Africa's results in all knock-out games of the World Cup since 1992:

Lost to England in semi-final in 1992: Chasing 253, South Africa once required 22 off 13 balls against England to make their maiden World Cup finals at the SCG when rain interrupted. When the skies cleared and the Proteas came back to bat in those pre-Duckworth-Lewis days, they were asked to score 21 runs off just 1 ball. The South Africans had finished third among nine teams in the round-robin league in this World Cup.

SA beat Zimbabwe, West Indies, Ireland & UAE but lost to India & Pak in Pool B

Lost to West Indies in quarter-final in 1996: After winning all their group matches, South Africa rammed into Brian Lara in the quarter final played at Karachi. The West Indian left-hander slammed 111 off 94 balls and chasing 265, the Proteas choked to finish at 245, losing the match by 19 runs.

Lost to Australia in semi-final in 1999: The South Africans topped the group with 4 wins and 1 loss and won 2 out of 3 games in the Super Six stage. But the biggest shocker of their cricketing history was waiting in the semifinals against Australia.

The South Africans had bundled out the Australians for just 213 but made a mess of the chase until Lance Klusener held the fort tight. The Proteas had required 9 runs in the last 6 balls. Klusener had hit two back-to-back boundaries to tie the scores.

But batsman no. 11 Allan Donald made a horrendous goof-up while running for the winning run and South Africa also got all-out for 213. Australia progressed to the finals because they had beaten South Africa in the Super Six stage.

Lost to Australia in semi-final in 2007: Yet another semifinal clash with the Australians and the Proteas failed to deliver. The pace duo of Glenn McGrath and Shaun Tait skittled them a paltry 149 which the Australians achieved with over 18 overs to spare.

Lost to New Zealand in quarter-final in 2011: Grame Smith led South Africa to the quarter-finals in this edition as the group toppers (5 wins, 1 loss) and everybody thought they would overcome New Zealand to make the semis. But Jacob Oram's 4-for and Nathan McCullum 3-for stopped the South Africans from breaking the jinx. Like in 1996, the South Africans failed to clear the quarter-final in the sub-continent yet again.

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