Cup was modest for a man of his class and on Tuesday his 8.5 overs cost an expensive 76 runs.
Steyn also needed lengthy treatment for a leg problem during the final over, and this was a further setback for a South Africa side who throughout the tournament, had to ‘fiddle’ 10 overs from a fifth bowler — reviving a longstanding criticism they had been excessively cautious in selecting an extra batsman rather than an additional bowler.
The Proteas may well have made a 350-plus score had not rain intervened, but a total of 281 for five, which left New Zealand needing a revised 298 in 43 overs, looked enough when the Black Caps were 149 for four. Yet it was from then on that the worth of England 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward’s oft-repeated phrase of ‘T-CUP’ (Thinking Clearly Under Pressure) became apparent, with captain AB de Villiers fumbling a run-out of Corey Anderson and Grant Elliott benefitting from another failed run out attempt and a dropped catch.
Anderson (58) helped Elliott added 103 for the fifth wicket before the South Africa-born Elliott, raising his game, completed a match-winning 84 not out.
“I didn’t take that (run-out chance) unfortunately, but yes if you want to see it that way that I cost us then I’ll gladly take it,” said a distraught de Villiers.
Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith, writing on the ICC’s website, said: “The Proteas missed the half-chances that counted and it ultimately cost them. Most tellingly they seemed to deviate from their pre-planned bowling strategy to McCullum by bowling poor lengths which allowed him to dictate the pace of the game,” he added.
Inevitably, South Africa’s latest World Cup loss will revive accusations of “choking”, yet in recent years they have won Tests from improbable positions against sides as good as Australia — not the act of a bunch of mentally weak players.