Why are South Africa cricket team known as chokers?

South Africa's men's cricket team have finally - after decades of near misses - got over the line to win silverware.

The Proteas beat defending champions Australia by five wickets at Lord's to win the World Test Championship.

It is their first silverware since 1998, when they claimed gold at the Commonwealth Games and won the inaugural Champions Trophy in the space of two months.

But their victory has another, arguably greater, significance, marking a massive stride in South Africa's bid to shake off one of sport's most unwanted nicknames: 'chokers'.

It's a tag which has hung heavy on the country's cricketers since 1999, so much so that even with the Proteas needing only 69 runs to win at the start of day four and with eight wickets in hand, many still fancied Australia to defend their crown.

However, while the wicket of captain Temba Bavuma three overs into the day set nerves jangling, South Africa held firm to secure their first trophy for 27 years.

"Whilst we were batting, we could hear the Aussies using that dreaded word, choke," reflected Bavuma after victory was sealed.

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