Top 5 South African ODI chokes against India

#2 2nd ODI of 5 match series 2011, Johannesburg

A dejected Johan Botha walks back to the pavilion

India have never won an ODI tournament of any kind in South Africa but back in 2011, they came close and in fact, led 2-1 in the series after 3 games. It all started in the 2nd game when India won the game by the slimmest of margins to square the series. MS Dhoni chose to bat first but things did not go to plan for India as they simply could not get going against the South African and crawled to 190 all out in 47.2 overs. Yuvraj Singh top scored for them with a fluent 53 in 68 balls.

South Africa were expected to win and it looked that way when their captain and opener Graeme Smith looked at ease in the middle. Even though India had picked up wickets and reduced South Africa to 120 for 4 (25th over), Smith was still there and it appeared that the hosts would eventually close out the game.

In the 33rd over, India got an opening of sorts when Smith was bowled by Munaf Patel. However, South Africa only needed 39 more to win in 107 deliveries and it was quite clearly their game. However, panic set in when David Miller went in the next over and Johan Botha followed two over later. The batsmen who came in to bat could not keep a calm head and wickets kept tumbling.

South Africa eventually lost 6 wickets in the space of around 11 overs and scored only 37 to lose the game by 1 run. It remains one of the most incredible collapses that South Africa suffered against India.