South Africa falls short once again

Coming second is never easy, especially when it happens repeatedly. After three consecutive finals where South Africa finished runners-up, the sting of second place becomes all the more painful. This time, however, South Africa seemed poised for victory. 

South Africa’s Missed Opportunity

With major contenders like England and India out of the running, and having eliminated defending champions Australia themselves, it felt like the stars had aligned for South Africa. On paper, they appeared stronger than New Zealand, but when the pressure of the final mounted, the team seemed unsure how to handle the unfamiliar role of being favourites.

Despite a motivational talk from Paul Adams, which included an image of the Arc de Triomphe to symbolise unity and national pride, the team lacked intensity. The usual fire in their play seemed absent, and their body language reflected a side struggling to own the moment. South Africa’s energy was flat, allowing New Zealand to dictate the game from the start.

New Zealand’s Relentless Play

New Zealand’s aggressive strategy during the Powerplay threw South Africa off their game plan. Marizanne Kapp, a key bowler, was given only two overs initially, deviating from her usual three. Though Ayabonga Khaka took an early wicket, she was uncharacteristically expensive. Laura Wolvaardt later admitted that New Zealand’s aggressive start caught South Africa off guard, forcing them into a defensive position rather than setting the tone of the match. They hoped to weather the storm, but New Zealand never let up.

By the 11th over, South Africa had clawed back some control, but the damage had already been done. New Zealand exploited South Africa’s lack of a fifth specialised bowler, with Nadine de Klerk and Sune Luus conceding 34 runs in just four overs. New Zealand’s tail-end surge derailed South Africa’s death bowling, especially in the final overs, and Khaka’s last spell fell apart under pressure. Wolvaardt admitted that New Zealand had an impressive finish, pushing the run-rate far beyond what South Africa anticipated.

One glaring issue was South Africa’s lack of discipline, bowling 10 wides and three no-balls, effectively gifting New Zealand two extra overs. Although South Africa didn’t drop any catches until the final ball, fielding errors gave New Zealand the confidence to convert singles into doubles, stretching what South Africa had hoped would be a chase of 140 to nearly 20 runs more. And in that gap, the match slipped away.

Unlike previous finals, this loss lacked the heart-wrenching drama of a last-ball finish or the inevitability of Australia’s dominance. This time, South Africa had the entire second innings to process the fact that the World Cup wasn’t theirs. Despite a promising start in the Powerplay, with Tazmin Brits and Wolvaardt showing early potential, South Africa’s middle-order failed to withstand the pressure—an issue they’ll need to address in future tournaments.

A Nation’s Hope Shattered, but the Fight Continues

For now, South Africa is left with the familiar feeling of seeing another team lift the trophy they believed was theirs to win. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, especially since interim coach Dillon du Preez remarked that this felt like the year their "World Cup curse" would finally be broken. The team felt the same, which may have led to additional pressure they couldn’t shake off. Wolvaardt, reflecting on the loss, noted how heartbroken her parents were, even more so than herself, illustrating the heavy expectations on the team.

In the lead-up to the final, the team had shared a sense that this year would be different. Wolvaardt recounted how friends and family members, some with nothing more than a gut feeling or a “tingling pinky finger,” had convinced themselves that South Africa would emerge victorious. However, cricket, much like life, is unpredictable, and South Africa learned that firsthand. Despite all the signs pointing toward their success, they failed to deliver the best performance in the game that mattered most. 

Wolvaardt admitted that it was disappointing to play one of their worst matches in the tournament when the stakes were highest. New Zealand capitalised on that, leaving South Africa to reflect on yet another missed opportunity.

Some might argue that South Africa needed this victory more than New Zealand. The country, plagued by economic hardship, crime, and corruption, could have used the morale boost from a World Cup win. By contrast, New Zealand, consistently ranking among the top nations in global living standards, had less riding on the result. But South Africans are no strangers to adversity. Once the disappointment fades, they will pick themselves up, knowing there’s another chance to win—the ODI World Cup in India is just around the corner. And, true to form, South Africa will be ready to fight again.