ICC Trophies won by South Africa
1999 ICC Cricket World Cup (England) – Semi-Finalist
- Famous Moment: The tied semi-final against Australia (Edgbaston) – known for Lance Klusener’s heroics.
- Missed Final due to run-out confusion (Allan Donald).
2007 ICC Cricket World Cup (West Indies) – Semi-Finalist
- Topped the group stage with solid wins.
- Knocked out by Australia in a one-sided semi-final.
2015 ICC Cricket World Cup (Australia/New Zealand) – Semi-Finalist
- Heartbreaking loss to New Zealand in the semi-final.
- Match remembered for Grant Elliott’s six and tears of AB de Villiers.
2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship – Finished 3rd
- Strong performances at home (vs India, Bangladesh).
- Beat England at Lord’s in 3 days.
- Missed the final by a narrow margin.
2023 ODI World Cup (India) – Semi-Finalist
- One of the most dominant teams in the group stage.
- Lost to Australia in the semi-final again.
- Batting collapsed under pressure.
2003 ICC Cricket World Cup (Home Soil) – Group Stage Exit
- Misread the DLS score in a must-win match vs Sri Lanka.
- One of the most infamous miscalculations in World Cup history.
2011 ICC Cricket World Cup (India) – Quarter-Final Exit
- Knocked out by New Zealand.
- Another collapse while chasing a modest target — called a “typical choke”.
2000 ICC KnockOut (Kenya) – Semi-Final Exit
- Lost to India in the semis despite early tournament promise.
2002 ICC Champions Trophy – Semi-Final Exit
- Rain-affected tournament; SA didn’t reach the final.
2019 ICC World Cup – Group Stage Exit
- One of their worst ever World Cups.
- Lost early games to England, Bangladesh, India.
- Finished 7th.
WTC-Specific Performances:
| WTC Cycle | Finalists | South Africa’s Position | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–2021 | New Zealand vs India | 6th | Weak transition phase post retirements |
| 2021–2023 | Australia vs India | 3rd | Just missed the final |
Why Is This a Drought
27 years (1998–2025) without a single ICC tournament final appearance.
Despite world-class players: AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn, Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, etc.
Known for consistency, but also for “choking under pressure.”
2025 ICC World Test Championship final
South Africa reclaimed the ICC Test Championship mace after beating Australia by five wickets in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) at Lord’s on Saturday. The final of the 2023-2025 was played from 11 to 14 June at Lord’s , London.