The Proteas lost by three runs to New Zealand in the final of the tri-series against the Black Caps at the weekend - from a position where they should have sealed a win - but the signs are there that the team is trending upwards.
In the second-last over of the match South Africa required eight runs off eight balls - chasing New Zealands 180 - with power hitters George Linde and Dewald Brevis at the crease. It was very much a match they should have won from that position, and many would describe the loss as another choke in a final, but its a bit more nuanced than that.
The Black Caps squad in Harare was largely their first-choice players. They won the tri-series having won all five matches against Zimbabwe and South Africa on their way to the trophy. Anything less would have been a disaster for former Proteas white-ball coach Rob Walter, who is now leading New Zealand, given the quality of the opposition.
New Zealand have never lost to Zimbabwe in the format and South Africas squad was composed of mostly young and fringe players.