ICC World Cup 2019: South Africa – Statistical Review

The 2019 World Cup was easily South Africa’s worst performance in any edition of the tournament as they lost five matches in the tournament and ended on the 6th spot. The Faf du Plessis-led team began with three straight defeats and a couple of games later, they were officially out of semi-final race. Injuries to crucial players at the start and the fact that they had to play three matches in the first week of the tournament contributed to their misery.

All the stats and numbers from South Africa’s worst performance in any World Cup:

1 – Imran Tahir bowled the first over of this World Cup in the inaugural game against England at the Oval. He thus became the first spinner to bowl the first over of a World Cup. In each of the previous 11 editions of the ODI World Cup,aaa the first over was delivered by a pacer.

3 – South Africa lost each of their first three matches in this World Cup. Their losing streak extends to four in the CWC if the defeat against New Zealand in the 2015 semis is considered. The Proteas have not lost more than two games in a succession in World Cup before this edition.

5 – Imran Tahir’s five 4-wicket hauls in the World Cup are the second most behind Mitchell Starc’s six 4-fers. Tahir became the first player to bag five 4-wicket hauls in the history of the World Cup but Starc surpassed the leg-spinner later in the tournament.

5 – South Africa lost five matches in this tournament; the most they lost in a World Cup. They lost four games apiece during their maiden CWC appearance in 1992 and also in the 2007 edition.

40 – Imran Tahir has taken 40 wickets from 21 World Cup games; the most wickets by a player in the CWC for South Africa. The leg-spinner went past Allan Donald’s tally of 38 wickets during this tournament. Tahir’s 40 wickets are also the 2nd most in CWC by a spinner after Muttiah Muralitharan’s 68.

96* – Faf du Plessis’ unbeaten 96 against Sri Lanka is the 2nd highest individual score while chasing for South Africa in World Cup. AB de Villiers’ unbeaten 107 is the only score higher than that of Faf in a CWC chase for South Africa. Jacques Kallis also scored 96 against India in the 1999 edition.

The 96-run knock by Du Plessis is also the highest individual score in a World Cup chase by a South African captain. He surpassed Graeme Smith’s 91 against Scotland that came in the 2007 edition.

100 – The 100 by Faf du Plessis in their final league match against Australia is the only individual century for the Saffers in this World Cup. Only Afghanistan (0) have fewer hundreds in this World Cup.

175* – The unbeaten 175-run stand between Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis for the 2nd wicket against Sri Lanka is the highest for South Africa while chasing in World Cup. AB de Villiers and Graeme Smith added 160 for the opening stand during an unsuccessful chase against Australia in the 2007 edition.

330/6 – The total of 330/6 by Bangladesh is the 2nd highest for any team against South Africa in the World Cup. The Proteas conceded 377/6 to Australia in the league phase match in the 2007 edition.