South Africa faltered yet again at crucial moments, allowing New Zealand to snatch a thrilling four-wicket victory in the first semi-final of the ICC World Cup, in Auckland, on Tuesday.
The pre-tournament favourites had dismissed suggestions that they could succumb under pressure as in previous editions of the 50-overs' tournament despite losing to India and Pakistan in the group stages.
A ruthless demolition of Sri Lanka in the quarter-finals, their first knock-out win at a World Cup, indicated that South Africa had put the demons of the past behind, an impression confirmed on Tuesday when they scored an impressive 281 for five from 43 overs after electing to bat.
But New Zealand, courtesy their never-say-die attitude, battled against the odds and clinched an unlikely victory with one ball to spare in the see-saw game, reduced to 43 overs because of rain, which had appeared to be beyond their grasp for most part.
As man-of-the-match Grant Elliott (84 not out from 73 balls) and Corey Anderson (58 from 57 balls) systematically chased down the victory target of 298 from 43 overs, signs of panic crept into the Proteas and they wilted.
Anderson (33) received a let-off when captain AB de Villiers made a total mess of a run-out opportunity, knocking the bails off without securing the ball in his hand, with the batsman stranded.
South Africa's fielding standards dipped as the pressure increased.
Wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock failed to collect the throw from Rossouw at deep square leg and break the stumps with Elliott (65) struggling to make his crease.
A few overs later, Elliot got another lifeline when he was dropped, as J P Duminy crashed into substitute fielder Farhaan Behardien, who had lined up the ball and was poised to secure the catch.
Elliott again benefited in the last over when wicketkeeper De Kock failed to hit the stumps with the batsman well out of his crease trying to steal a quick bye and Dale Steyn also missed at the non-striker's end as Daniel Vettori somehow managed to get his partner back on strike.
South Africa's leading strike bowler Steyn was smashed all round the field by Brendon McCullum at the start of the innings and then conceded a four to Daniel Vettori and the six to Elliott which gave New Zealand their dramatic victory.
De Villiers was in tears at the post-match news conference after overseeing another South African defeat on the big stage.
"It's a tough one," he said. "We had our chances in the second half of the game but we didn't take them. It's difficult to say the kind of emotions I'm feeling." De Villiers said, adding that the team badly wanted to take the World Cup back home.
"I guess life moves on, the sun comes up tomorrow," he said.
"We had a lot of fun in this tournament and I'm proud of the guys.
"It hurts quite a bit, we had our chances and we didn't take them."
He agreed that the missed run-out chance was one of the opportunities to win the game.
"I guess if you want to see it that way that I cost us the game."
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