Though conditions played their part in the outcome, the Proteas will look back at their Champions Trophy semifinal against New Zealand knowing that once again in a knockout match they contributed to their own demise.
Mitchell Santner’s side earned a significant advantage by being able to bat first, when the pitch at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore were at their most compliant However, the South Africans didn’t execute well enough, missed a crucial catch and then let New Zealand get away from them in the last 10 overs, setting a total captain Temba Bavuma said was above par.