5 worst defeats for South Africa in ODIs

#4 48 run loss to Zimbabwe in World Cup league game at Chelmsford, 1999

South Africa were the best team in the 1999 World Cup and while their fellow continental rivals Zimbabwe surprised everyone with their performance, no one expected them to beat the Proteas. South Africa had won all their games till then and once they had restricted Zimbabwe to 233 for 6 in 50 overs, there was not much doubt about the eventual winner of the game.

Zimbabwean all-rounder Neil Johnson, who had top-scored with 76 in the 1st innings, bounced out Gary Kirsten off the 1st ball of the South African innings and from then on it was a downward spiral for them. They were soon reduced to 40 for 6 by Johnson and Heath Streak and only half-centuries from Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener saved them from the embarrassment of being bowled out for less than 100. They made 185 but the match was lost in the first 12 overs of the South African innings.