How the host nation fared in each ODI World Cup

#4 South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya, 2003

The 2003 World Cup was the first time that the tournament moved to Southern Africa and it was a roaring success. Kenya, one of the hosts, were allotted two games at Nairobi but they played most of their games in overseas venues. However, they surprised everyone by reaching the semi-final stage of the tournament and upstaged the main host South Africa, who were knocked out at the group stage. South Africa, led by Shaun Pollock were the pre-tournament favourites and even though they lost to the West Indies by 3 runs in their first game, it was looked upon as a hiccup.

They soon got into their stride but lost a game to New Zealand by the Duckworth-Lewis method but it was their last game against Sri Lanka in which they committed a blunder of epic proportions. In another rain-affected game, they miscalculated their qualifying score on the net run rate before the players went off after a spell of rain. Although South Africa won the game by Duckworth-Lewis method, they fell short due to net run rate and went out. It remains one of the most bizarre ousters in World Cup history.