Nearly two years on from their heartbreaking World Cup semi-final loss to the BLACKCAPS in Auckland, the Proteas return to Eden Park for the first time in Friday's opening ANZ T20.
Seven of the current visiting squad were on the field at Eden Park as Grant Elliott smashed the winning six with one ball to spare.
It’s something Test captain Faf du Plessis expects they’ll never forget.
"Something like that‚ you’ll always carry it with you,” he told reporters in Auckland.
"As a team, we’ve definitely put it behind us‚ but the emotions of that day will always be with us. That’s not a bad thing. Although we were on the wrong side of the result, it was a great day of cricket and something that will always be with us.”
BLACKCAPS captain Kane Williamson’s fond memories from that night are tinged with empathy for his opposition.
“Any side that loses in such a close affair and so far into the tournament - you always feel for them,” he said in reflection on.
“We have a great relationship with the South African side and have many friendships and I think it showed - it was a highly competitive match but I think there were a number of parts that people will remember about that match not just the result.
“It was a great game of cricket. It was one of those days where a lot of things perhaps fell in our favour at home in front of an epic crowd to get us into the final of the World Cup - it was pretty special.
“So a lot of good memories, there’s been a number of great games here at Eden Park and hopefully another tomorrow night.”
South Africa’s one day captain AB de Villiers pulled no punches when asked if the visitors had Eden Park revenge on their mind in the build up.
"We have got a bit of unfinished business from the 2015 World Cup," he said.
“Being the number one team in the world people expect you to play a certain level of cricket all the time, but with the team ethic we have at the moment I think we’ll thrive under that kind of pressure. It definitely gives you confidence as well. There’s a reason why we’re number one and that’s because we’re playing good cricket.”
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