NICK HOWSON: A win over the Netherlands stands between The Proteas and the semi-finals. Any other outcome and they'll need favours to progress from Group Two
Sydney 1992. Edgbaston 1999. Durban 2003. Nottingham 2009. Dhaka 2011. Mirpur 2014. Auckland 2015. The nightmares of World Cups past may never be fully exorcised by South Africa men but that won't stop them from trying.
As is often the case, The Proteas have their future in another global ICC competition in their own hands. Beat Netherlands and they cruise into the semi-finals and if Zimbabwe deny India, will do so as winners of Group Two.
Failure to do so will see them requiring a bout of inclement weather (they know all about that, too) in Adelaide when Pakistan and Bangladesh face off in the afternoon match to keep them on course for the semi-finals. A win for either will see them on the next flight home.
It would also see another world title bid go up in smoke. This is the strongest team South Africa men have fielded at a World Cup for at least seven years when Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir crashed out at the hands of New Zealand, but it will count for nothing again if the Dutch aren't defeated.
"I think that's probably the only way to kind of get rid of it, if you want to kind of call it that," said Wayne Parnell, a veteran of six World Cup campaigns, on South Africa's tag as chokers. "It's always going to be there.
Parnell's 'nap' celebration is inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo (Isuru Sameera Peiris/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
"So I think when we get that first trophy, hopefully, it will go away. But until then, I think it's always going to be there. It's just something we have to deal with."
Parnell became the first former Kolpak player to return to the South Africa team following the UK's exit from the European Union, after four years of treading the boards of county and franchise cricket.
His five tournament wickets having include Mohammad Rizwan and Suryakumar Yadav and been accompanied by the same 'nap' celebration made famous by Manchester United and Portugal footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
"He has always been one of my favourite footballers and I've obviously followed his career quite closely," he explained.
THE BIG MATCHWho: South Africa v NetherlandsWhere: Adelaide Oval, AdelaideWhen: Sunday, November 6 (10.30am local time, Midnight GMT)Prediction: South Africa
"And I think I've kind of taken on some stuff that he has been going through, you know, as a professional athlete and someone that's very competitive and passionate about doing well.
"And that's something that I've always wanted to do as well is contribute to the team's success.
"It's just about having fun as well. I think, you know, we're very lucky to be playing this sport and to be able to do it on this world stage.
"Obviously, there's no COVID, so we have fans back, and it's just about entertaining everyone."
Netherlands know victory might just be enough to see them return to the T20 World Cup in 2024. The top four in each Super 12s group are guaranteed direct passage to the tournament in the West Indies and United States, avoiding another journey on the qualifying circuit.
Netherlands are looking to sign off in style (Sarah Reed/Getty Images)
Left-field results have littered the competition and after beating United Arab Emirates, Namibia and Zimbabwe - their first at this stage since the Super 10 win over England in Chittagong - the Dutch are keen for one of their own.
"I think you look at the different formats and then you look at T20 cricket, the shorter the format is, the closer the teams are," said Roelof van der Merwe.
"I don't think there's as many - well, they call them "upsets". Like 10 years ago, there would have been one a tournament.
"I think you're seeing it more and more happening now. Teams are getting more clued up on how they want to prepare and what needs to be done in winning games, so I think that's definitely something that's evolved over the last 10 years or so.
"But yeah, teams are getting closer to the guys at the top, which is good to see. It's good for cricket. Hopefully, that can continue, and there's of those type of games coming."
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