Cricket World Cup History: 5 times South Africa choked at the World Cup 

#3 2003 World Cup group stage match (vs Sri Lanka)

The rain came in the form of an antagonist for South Africa

South Africa tasted perhaps their most embarrassing exit from the World Cup in 2003, an exit that was marked by their failure on home soil. They needed a win in their last league game against Sri Lanka to qualify for the super sixes. Chasing 269, South Africa went about their chase matching their scores with the Duckworth-Lewis targets with a storm around the corner.

With the rain building, it was only a matter of time before play was due to be interrupted. South Africa were at 223/6 from 44.4 overs, and the D/L par score at the end of 45 overs was 229.

Mark Boucher lofted Muralitharan for a six off the next delivery and pumped his fists, with the target under control. At the end of the 45th over, the rains came in and the covers came on, with the match abandoned post the break.

Unfortunately for South Africa, a lack of communication led to South Africa's exit. A single off the last ball would have been enough but they had miscalculated the target as Boucher played out a dot. They needed just a solitary run to get across the line but in the end, the tie knocked them out of the tournament.