South Africa’s semi-final elimination by New Zealand in Lahore on Wednesday leaves India as the only unbeaten team of the Champions Trophy, heading into Sunday’s final here.

Bittersweet 16 months

It’s been a bittersweet 16 months for South African cricket. They have been supremely consistent across formats, evidenced by their semi-final appearances in the 50-over World Cup in India in late 2023 and now in the Champions Trophy, and by their entry into the final of the T20 World Cup in Bridgetown in June, when they somehow managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against India.