South Africa have been often taunted with the ‘chokers’ tag despite featuring players with exceptional talent and skill. On March, 4, South Africa’s unbeaten run in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 was ended by New Zealand in a demoralising fashion. South Africa had no answer to Kiwi openers, especially a rampaging Finn Allen who scored a record-breaking 33-ball century. After the nine-wicket loss, their first to BlackCaps in T20 World Cup history, head coach Shukri Conrad faced the same question again. Did South Africa choke? Conrad had his sense of humour intact and said: ‘tonight wasn’t a choke, it was a bloody walloping’.
"I don't know if tonight was a choke. I thought it was a bloody walloping. I think in order for you to choke, you must have had a sniff in the game," Conrad said in in the post-match press conference at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
"We didn't have a sniff. In South Africa, we say we got moered snotklap, also a South African word meaning a real hiding."
The word ‘snotklap’ means that means slapping someone in a way that it makes their nose run.
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The last time New Zealand beat South Africa in a World Cup semifinal was in 2015. Over a decade ago, South African players were crying as they were humbled by a certain Grant Elliot in a thrilling contest. This time, the Proteas players faces showed a more shocked look as if they are unable to process what just happened to a team that had been unbeaten in the tournament so far which beat India in a comprehensive manner.
‘No excuses’ from Conrad
South Africa faced early blows when they were put to bat first by Mitchell Santner. Cole McConchie got rid of both left-handers Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton with the new ball. After a below par powerplay, South Africa lost half the side for 77 in the 11th over. It was Marco Jansen's unbeaten 30-ball 55 which took South Africa to 169/8.
"They strangled us up front, we lost wickets and we didn't get any sort of momentum going," he said. "A hell of a lot didn't go right tonight, but that was probably enforced because they were so good and they never gave us a sniff. I'm not going to sit here and try and make excuses for a bad night. We weren't good and they were excellent."
Conrad ready for abuse
Conrad expects harsh criticism of the Proteas team following their shocking defeat in the semifinal. But, he lauded the players for what they did in the tournament to make it to the last four unscathed.
"There'll be enough people that are going to be jumping on the bandwagon but we did so many special things. I'm so proud of these guys," he said. "I don't think many people gave us much of a chance of even getting into a semi-final when we left the shores, given our form before that. But that's no consolation or anything like that. I think it's cue the abuse now and there'll be enough of it."
South Africa to face New Zealand 10 days later
South Africa will have another crack at New Zealand. Their New Zealand tour is scheduled to take place between March 15 and March 25. The Proteas side will look for some consolation in the five-T20I series.