World Cup 2023 Review: South Africa – Impressive Proteas fall 2-step short

South Africa had another dominant campaign in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 as they finished in the second spot on the points table with seven wins from nine matches having 14 points to their name. However, the Proteas once again faltered in the knockouts as they lost against Australia in the second semi-final, bringing an end to their memorable campaign.

Top Batter

Quinton de Kock had a dream run in the tournament playing his last ODI World Cup. The wicketkeeper-batter finished as the third-highest run scorer of the event with 594 runs to his name from ten innings at an average of 59.40 and a strike rate of 107.20. The southpaw scored four hundreds in the tournament with a highest score of 174.

Top Bowler

Gerald Coetzee shone with the ball on his World Cup debut as he finished as the highest wicket-taker for his side with 20 wickets to his name from eight innings at an average of 19.80 and an economy of 6.23. The right-arm seamer picked best figures of 4/44 against Afghanistan in the last league game.

X-factor Player

Marco Jansen played a crucial for his side throughout the tournament as he performed with both bat and ball. The left-arm seamer picked the second most number of wickets for his team with 17 scalps to his name from nine innings at an average of 26.47. He also scored 157 runs with the bat from eight innings at an average of 31.40 and a strike rate of 110.56.

Most Memorable Moment

The most memorable moment of South Africa’s campaign was their massive 229-run humbling of the defending champions England in their fourth fixture in Mumbai. Batting first, the Proteas posted a massive total of 399/7 in their allotted 50 overs courtesy of a breathtaking hundred from Heinrich Klaasen 109 off 67. In reply, they bundled out England for just 170 with Gerald Coetzee picking a 3/35 in four overs.