by Rex Clementine
The movie Invictus captures how Nelson Mandela, fresh out of prison and newly sworn in as President of South Africa, rallied a divided nation behind the Springboks to lift the 1995 Rugby World Cup — toppling the mighty All Blacks, led by the unstoppable Jonah Lomu. But Mandela’s sporting influence didn’t stop there. You can bet your bottom Pound he lit a fire under the cricket team too. Yet, for all their stardust and steel, South Africa’s cricketing journey has often been a tale of promise unfulfilled.
For decades, their Achilles’ heel has been their struggle to hold nerve under pressure. Time and again, they’d be in the driver’s seat only to take their foot off the pedal and crash into heartbreak. The most recent example? The T20 World Cup final last year in Barbados. Needing just 30 runs off 30 deliveries with six wickets in hand — and two of the cleanest hitters at the crease — they somehow managed to lose. It was a classic case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
That was their first ever ICC World Cup final. In 18 previous campaigns — across 50-over and T20 editions — South Africa often started as front-runners, only to trip over their own shoelaces in the knockout stages. And not every collapse was due to pressure. At times, it was plain arrogance. Cast your mind back to the 1996 World Cup. Allan Donald — their premier paceman — was rested for the quarter-final against West Indies, nursing what insiders called a minor niggle. The thinking was to keep him fresh for the semi-final. Problem was, they hadn’t beaten the West Indies yet. But Brian Charles Lara had other ideas. He carved up their bowling like a Sunday roast, and South Africa were on the first plane home.
Fast forward to this Saturday. As South African fans hopped off the Jubilee Line at St. John’s Wood and streamed into Lord’s, many dared not dream. Chasing 69 runs against Australia — the perennial World Cup prizefighters — was no cakewalk. The Aussies had made winning trophies a habit. The scars of past World Cups still lingered for Proteas supporters and hope was tempered with caution.
But this isn’t the South Africa of yesteryear. This side knows its strengths, owns its flaws and backs itself to the hilt. The quiet architect of this transformation? Temba Bavuma. Small in stature but big on substance, he’s the kind of practical, no-nonsense leader South African cricket had long cried out for. Under his stewardship, this team has shed the baggage of the past and begun to write its own script.
And how clinical was that run chase. Cool, composed, and calculated. Aiden Markram — the first South African captain to win a World Cup (at under-19 level) — steered the ship with icy calm. He didn’t stay to hit the winning runs, falling to the second new ball, but by then, the game had been put to bed.
The batters did their bit, but the architects of this victory were the quicks — South Africa’s seam trio bowled like a dream. Kagiso Rabada turned up the heat with sizzling spells, picking up nine wickets in the match and reminding the world why he’s still the crown jewel in their pace attack. Marco Jansen, all awkward angles and steep bounce, kept the Aussies hopping and chipped in with key wickets. The pair barely smile, rarely celebrate, but like Donald and Ntini of old, they’re becoming a lethal double act.
Then there was Lungi Ngidi. He had a quiet first innings, but when it mattered most, he turned the screws. That delivery to dismiss Steve Smith, nipping in and wrapping on the pads, was pure poetry in motion.
Make no mistake — something special is brewing. For years, the Big Three — Australia, England, and India — dominated the Test arena. But South Africa have thrown their hat into the ring, and it’s not just for show. With Australia and England both set to tour the Rainbow Nation in the next WTC cycle, and a spicy away series in India on the horizon, the stage is set for a riveting contest.
