Bongi Msomi's SPAR Proteas come up short in first international against Australia
Other Sports
Free-scoring South Africa crashed to a humbling defeat to hosts India at the Cricket World Cup.
With progress to the business end already secured, the Proteas lacked sharpness with the ball and were careless with the bat.
The knockout games ahead are what matter the most and many have pointed out that a rematch is likely in the coming weeks.
India won the toss and chose to bat first, keen to test the Proteas' ability to chase.
Virat Kohli top scored for the hosts with 101 not out as India posted 326/5.
Bongi Msomi's SPAR Proteas come up short in first international against Australia
Other SportsIn reply, the Proteas were abysmal. Quinton de Kock added just five to the 545 he had already scored in the tournament, Marco Jansen top-scoring with 14 as South Africa collapsed to 83 all out.
It was South Africa's lowest total in a Cricket World Cup and the first time they had failed to reach 100.
Hopeful Proteas fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, made comparisons to the South African rugby team's run to the final and the long-term goals.
KG.@jaketheoptomist posted:
"The Springboks lost to the number 1 team in the world and favourites in their second last game of the group stages, the Proteas just lost their second last game to the number 1 team and favourites…"
Simmi@simmiareff posted their analysis:
"Great tactics by the Proteas. Play badly, lure India into a false sense of security, lose this game embarrassingly, get called chokers, meet India in the final, win the toss, bat first, score 480, bowl them out for 85. This is the game plan."
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Sports Brief recently reported on the best batting performances by a South African at a Cricket World Cup.
Quinion de Kock equalled the South Africa record of four World Cup centuries with 114 against New Zealand.
AB de Villiers shares that record with hundreds in the 2007, 2011 and 2015 editions of the competition.