The Proteas left for England in high spirits, talking about winning the Champions Trophy.
AB de Villiers was confident that his manne had the talent and determination to be world-beaters and get rid of that chokers tag once and for all.
It didn’t turn out like that. And South Africa were knocked out at the end of the group stage, with disappointed fans cursing their luck and a mother's womb somewhere.
After losing the three-match ODI series to hosts England preceding the tournament, the writing should have been on the wall, though.
The defeat to the Poms was written off as warm-ups and that losses would serve to iron out the kinks.
Little did they know that they would be coming into the last of the four Tests against England needing a win to salvage a draw.
It’s been a very up-and-down tour for the Proteas and to be honest, there have been more lows than highs.
Coming into the series, they knew they were going to be without Dale Steyn and De Villiers - moerse star names.
And then the news came that skipper Faf du Plessis was going to miss the opening clash due the birth of his first child.
Things didn’t go great for stand-in captain Dean Elgar and SA lost that first Test, before losing ace bowler Kagiso Rabada for swearing at Ben Stokes. And coach Russell Domingo had to go home to mourn the death of his mother.
Lows and more lows.
Somehow the Proteas dug deep and pulled off a remarkable victory at Trent Bridge. The manne really showed their quality and fight.
They reminded everyone why this developing team keeps climbing up the rankings - they have gone from sixth last year to second. And in the final Test, Faf and his charges have to put their best foot forward.
After the win at the Bridge, there was talk that the boys did it for the coach, who had just lost his mother. Some said they won because they had to show the Poms wie’s baas after a proper pak at Lord’s.
Now the stage is set for another epic fightback.
Coming into the Old Trafford clash, this could turn out to be Domingo’s final game in charge of the national team with CSA to name who they gave the job to after a secretive process.
For the players, it’s also the time to show that they are still top performers at this level.
Hashim Amla hasn’t been the banker we have come expect him to be. And it’s been a long time since he has been that man.
For a guy who has never had a textbook technique, he is looking like a liability as he fails to bring stability to a top order that has struggled for form and continuity.
We may see some new faces in the batting line-up tomorrow, with Heino Kuhn failing big time to settle in at the top of the order.