Choke-Hold: A Look At South Africa's Painful Past At ICC Events

South Africa and World Cup semifinals used to be a sporting tragedy of Shakepearean proportions. Not anymore. Shedding the unwanted tag of perennial "chokers" the Proteas marched into their maiden T20 World Cup final unbeaten in Tarouba, Trinidad, comfortably beating tournament giant-slayers Afghanistan. The triumph wiped off years of heartache and the trauma of being labelled under-performers despite having some of international cricket's biggest names in the line-up. Let's take a look at the Proteas' tormented past when they failed to get over the line at key junctures in global events.

1992 ODI World Cup semifinal vs Australia

Not quite a choke but just bad luck. Emerging after 22 years of exile following the end of apartheid in the country, South Agrica had everything going for them, their lightening quick bowlers were excelling, their fielders affected sensational run-outs.

However, in the semifinal, rain came and the equation went from a reasonably gettable 22 off 7 balls, gettable to 22 off just one bacll, thanks to a miscommunication on their revised target.

1996 ODI World Cup quarterfinal vs West Indies

Having won all their group games, Hansie Cronje and his men started firm favourites against West Indies in the quarterfinal. But Brian Lara played an absolute blinder while spinners Roger Harper and Jimmy Adams spun a web to inflict a 19-run defeat on the Proteas.

1999 ODI World Cup semifinal vs Australia

Perhaps the most devastating game in South Africa's cricketing history. The semifinal at Edgbaston that turned tournament's best player Lance Klusener into the World Cup's biggest tragic hero.

Chasing a modest 214, South Africa needed nine off the final over with the final pair at the crease. Klusener