I was disappointed, but do believe that Pakistan *won* the match and you didn't throw it away!
Sterkte!

Well done and a great effort, to be commended even though its not what one hoped for. It was a good tournament and the team showed good character!

Graeme, there is no doubt in my mind that you guys tried your level best. I agree with you that Pakistan played really well - just a pity they chose to do it against SA. I am abolutely positive that 9 times out of 10 SA will beat Pakistan in any format but unfortunately this was not one of those times.

As with the team, I am also very sad about the loss and I almost feel robbed of the world cup - this was SA's tournament. All that I can say to you is, keep on doing what you are doing and you will continue to make us proud. In my book, you guys are the best cricketing team around.

Dont worry, Graeme and Proteas.
We Saffa supporters are still behind you guys, and are proud of all the wonderful cricketing achievements that you guys got over the last year.
Don't lose heart dears, Pakistan just played better. It wasn't your day.
Proteas are STILL my role models!!

You guys deserve much better than this. Your fellow countrymen are proud of your professional, efficient and well balanced approach to 20/20 cricket... I have no doubt that your time for glory will come... keep trekking....

South Africa Zindabad!

Well done to Pakistan.

Once again I wonder, what happened? We can all say, yes they were better on the day, but how many time does this happen?

Far too many.

Once again our "top" order batsmen forgot to show up for the game. Kallis spent too much time getting the runs. Duminy, well lets just say "Choke". Somehow he also left his bat at home. Smith forgot his timing at home. Gibs forgot his patience at home. All in all this left the rest of the team with a tremendous hill to climb.

Well done to Pakistan, they brought the whole team to the game...

I'm not South African but I think the Proteas are the best!

You're a good leader Graeme and still gracious even in defeat. You and the boys have played fantastic cricket not only throughout the tournament but for the past year.

The Proteas are a well balanced team and I am sure next time the cup will be yours!

Well done to SA for reaching the semi finals of the T20 World cup.
You are the only guys that know what committment and sacrifice it takes to play at that level and how to get there.

On the day, Pakistan was the better team. You guys are still the best.
I know you are dissapointed and would have loved to bring home some silverware, but just having a great national side like you is enough silverware for me. You have done us proud and don't let anyone tell you different.

The other team was better on the day. It happens. We move on. You all are still the most powerful cricket team in the world right now. Can't wait for the Champions trophy and the English this summer :-) See you at Newlands!

Being Pakistani, I am delighted that Pakistan has got its way into the the final by defeating the best team in the world.

I always enjoy watching South Africa as you are a complete team, best in bowling, batting and fielding.

You guys really played well throughout the T20 tournament and even in the semi final you put Pakistan under pressure and restricted them to 149 runs. But I think yesterday fate was not with you guys.

Don't lose your heart, keep it up! See you in the upcoming Champions Trophy.

Well where do I begin?

I think it is time for a shake-up in South African Cricket, we should learn from the professionalism shown by Australia in that only the in-form players are selected. They send a player with the ability of Andrew Symons home for ill-disipline, while our players make the team and stay there regardless.

All the Jaques Kallis critics consider youselves silenced, he continually has to bail us out. It's surprising that he was not considered as a 20/20 player yet he was one of the highest run scorers in this tournament and performed brilliantly in the IPL.

Smith on the other hand is definitely not a limited overs player, why was Botha not given the captaincy as he has proved himself in the shorter format of the game? Post match we all know before hand what drivel will come pouring out of your mouths, Graeme and Mickey (it's scripted)... take responsibity.

Greame your fielding is pathetic, you can only field in the slips as you are not very mobile for a man of your age. You were given a second chance against Pakistan and what did you do? Throw your wicket away and expect those around you to fix your mess. In the previous match you also made critical mistakes which nearly cost us that match.

When England's captain does not perform, they change the captaincy. Botha has already proved that he has what it takes in the limited over format, why don't you captain the Test side and step down in the other formats?

To the rest of the team you were brilliant, don't feel that you have failed, it's time for others to accept responsibility. Greame, in closing you repesent all South Africans when you're in your strip, so please don't stand with your hands in your pockets while being interviewed, it shows no respect for the interviewer or the country you represent.

"We had Albie and Bouch padded up from as early as the 10th over but a wicket didn’t fall and we couldn’t get them to the crease.

I am adamant that JP should not shoulder the blame. It wasn’t his day, certainly, but it wasn’t as if he didn’t try! Once again the Trent Bridge wicket was slow and two-paced and it makes strokeplay especially difficult."

Surely as a team player you sacrifice your wicket to a pinch hitter if its not working for you in this format of the game?

Yes, JP is an amazing talent who has just had the year of his life, but it didn't work for him last night and for the greater good of the team should have 'sacrificed' his wicket. I am sure that I am not the only one saying things like this today!!!

I completely diasgree with the author of the 'disappointing' comment-suprise, suprise they didn't reveal their name! Don't listen to them Graeme. You really tried your best and that was evident. I thought it was nice that you were so magnanimous in defeat because it must have been tough to take. Please stick around and ignore the haters. I know they might seem more vocal but you do have fans out there and we are behind you 100%.

Guys... I believe and know that you're a great team. All of you played very well and gave it your all. I'm so proud to be a South African knowing that the Protea's are still around.

JP you're the best - you played with so much heart - I could actually feel, maybe even saw, your lips moving, saying a prayer...

This is coming from a "moerse" cricket fan only supporting SA all hte way. Come to think of it, you know for a fact that you're the best in the world.

I completely agree with what you are saying, Graeme. Pakistan just played the better cricket on the day and if we had played them any other day we would have won. That is what makes it so hard given the fact that we were the better team and deserved to win. This chokers thing was invented by people who don't really watch cricket and they are the ones silent when we win. If we were chokers we would never have won a test series in England and Australia. Enjoy the break boys - you boys have been beyond excellent this season!!

hard luck. I do believe you need to get rid of Arthur. Time and again he's shown tactical weaknesses at crunch times.

Good effort though guys, keep going!

Guys please dont feel bad about yesterday's result.You have played excellent throughout the tournament.Probably yesterday wasnt your day.
Thanks for everything.I enjoyed SA mathces so much!
Love you.

Graeme and the rest of the Proteas
We are extremely proud of you. You did so well.
I am so sorry about the loss. Pakistand played so well and in a way one should be proud of them also.
To come together as a team and play like they did, remembering where they come from - a country torn with terrorism and where nobody wants to tour to.

You did your best. We cry for you, we cry with you.
Nobody is to blame. There can only be one winner.

You bring out the best in other teams, because you are so good and because you play the game so well.
That is why teams up their games when they face you.

You did us proud.
We will support always.
We love you always.
Constructive critisism is always good - but please do not listen to the media and "fans" who blame and insult.
We see you in the champions trophy and as always I will be at every possible game.

Congratulations Mr Khan on your team. They played extremely well.
Thank you for your kind words.
The Proteas are a wonderful team.

I am a Pakistani fan, but Smith I really appreciate the way you have handled it, with a lot of honour, your blog post and post match reaction is a testament to that, so unlike how New Zealand reacted. And yes you guys are the best ODI team in the world, but that's the thing with Pakistan cricket - we don't know what team will show up to play and you were hard done by that.

And as you rightly pointed out, you guys didn't lose the match and give it away like in previous instances, and I admit before the match being a Pakistani I was hoping for you guys to choke, but it would be unfair on the team and the players to be labeled as chokers again.

So good luck with the Champions Trophy. While Pakistan are in it, I will obviously be supporting them, but i think this time around I will pick SA as my second favourite team, in case my team decides not to show up properly for the tournament.

I agree that Pakistan did play a better game. Just really upset that we didn't take the calculated risks we should have. We are always too cautious in the big matches and the risk averse approach does not get us "over the line".

It is disappointing that we didn't make the Finals again.Its been happenning since 1992!

I think our time will come soon. You guys have done a superb job over the past year. But now we look forward to the next 10 years as the Aussies did from 99 - 08!

Time to take up the mantle of WORLD BEATERS! With all due respect Graeme... I think that there are a few guys in the team, including yourself, who need to get the fitness levels up ;)

We still continue to support and we will be there when we lift the Champions Trophy and World Cup 2011!!

I was very emotional about yesterday because I have watched every single match in this tournament and was adament that we were sure winners.

I shed many tears after yesterday's match but I firmly believe we tried our best. No one can say we played badly, it was just that Pakistan were on fire and Shahid Afridi played brilliantly.

I think it is disappointing because we were the most consistent but I guess T20 is not about consistency. Pakistan were the better team on the day when it counted.

I still back the Proteas 100% and my faith in you will not waiver. I know we will do brilliantly in ICC Champion's Trophy. Well done to our team for giving it their best shot. I am proud to be a South African.

O please, get over yourself Mario. You obviously don't get how unpredictable and short T20 cricket is.

You will not believe how nerve wrecking it was watching your semi last night! Our whole family, like many others I'm sure, was with you every moment! It was heart breaking to lose - I was so sure this time the cup was coming home...

This T20 format is very fickle: it is so short, so intense. I agree with the author of "We are better than that": we were the best, most consistent team in the tournament! I cant believe it had to end like this!

Don't worry... we'll get them in September... can't wait to see you and the Boyz back in SA! We're backing you 100%!

when are you coming home? Want to welcome my heroes back at OR TAMBO

No biggie when you guys won match after match BUT holy crp - dare you lose a game and all hell breaks loose! Look at the IPL. My money was on CSK or DD but neither made it to the finals. Just the way the game goes.

Well done - keep it up!!!!!!!!!!

Take a chill pill! So we didn't win this time, big deal! The boys gave it their best and SA knows it. They were spectacular throughout the tournament and played their hearts out.
Undoubtedly it was a well deserved win for Pakistan, they deserve to be in the finals. And our boys deserve our support - they've earned it.

ONS IS BAIE TROTS OP JULLE !!!!!!!!!

WE ARE SO PROUD TO BE YOUR FANS!!!

Its nice to see that we (including our team and captain) are humble and graceful enough to take the loss, even though it yet another one of those bitter pills that we seemed to be getting used to swallowing!!!

After claiming the best figures in international 20-20 cricket last week, umar gul (who holds the 1st, 3rd & 7th best figures) & co have shown why they are a team to be reckoned with, even when not firing on all cylinders.

Our boys can still hold their heads up high as this what 20-20 cricket is all about!

I believe the Proteas are the future of dominance. All these negative people must go to Australia and support those players who are soon to belong to old age. Smith and the boys played very well. Every time we lose, something about arrogance and chokers pops up. Why doesnt it come out when we win and win well?

There are people out there who are just waiting for the day, and they always jump up and say "we told you so, blah blah blah". When Smith wins, he is a legend; when he loses he must go. South Africans cannot appreciate their own.

What happened to Shane Warne when he tested positive? Australia protected him and he bounced back. He retired a legend.

What did we do to Hansie? We crucified him.

We should learn to appreciate our own, not even our government is perfect; why do we expect our sports stars to be perfect? GO PROTEAS!

With AB, JP, Hamla, Steyn, Parnell, Smith, Van Der Merwe, and the other lads, SA has a team to be feared. Watch this space!

I think as sportsmen, Greame Smith, Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher should hit the gym and see a dietician because they are just plain overweight!

If you count the amount of runs we lost by - only 7. If only these three could have stolen a run for every over bowled.

This team has once again built the fans up, just to drop them again at the semis.

Greame, take my advice and look at your vice captain, and ask him why he looks the way he does...

I remember I cried for an hour after Pakistan was out of the tournament in 2007, and South Africa lost due to the hard luck.

Still, you guys have won huge fans across the globe.
Smith, Kallis, AB, Parnell have a huge following in Pakistan.

I believe SA has the chockers tag for a reason. The team always collapses in pressure situation. The most memorable one was due in 1992 world due to the D/L Method that South African Lad himself devised. The team has got to be humble and not too over confident before a big match. Otherwise they will keep choking and choking...

WHAT DOES TROTS UP JULLE mean OL PAL OL BUDDY? CHEERIO!

My name is Etienne Marais and I am 18 yeras old.
I am a big fan of the South-African Cricket and I am a born-again Christian.
May God bless the South-African Cricket Team and I wish our boys all of the best for the next games.

Kind regards
Etienne Marais

My name is Hayley Rehbock. I am a big fan of South
Africa cricket and I love Graeme Smith. I don't
want them to go out, it well not be the some at all. I am a big fan of Graeme Smith.

Graeme, no matter what, our household will always route for the Proteas. You guys have done an excellent job and we mourn the losses with you. I took today off to watch the final ODI and I will be shouting and screaming and egging the guys on. You can't win em all, but seeing the passion is reward in itself. GO DO YOUR BEST AND KNOW THAT WE LOVE YOU.

Yeah Well Done to Pakistan.............

I did not see the whole of the New Zealand game after our game, but Kudus to them for comming out and playing very positive cricket. they backed themselves to hit out and make something of the game.

As for the Proteas the 5 day attitude which dribbled ones was pathetic to say the least. To me if I compare body language and attitude I have to say that the feeling I get is that in the team seems to be for individual scores NOT for getting the job done.

Ag shame we do not know how to play spin....well fix it! Thats what you are paid to do.

Compare smiths attitude to the game to that of Botha who came out with determination. His mental attitute was Theres a job to be done and Im going to do it.

Someone should tell you Grahame that you cannot have a draw in 20/20
Accepting defeat is one thing... a hard pill but thats the game... accepting less that your best is another story.

Having said that I will be back supporting you all and perhaps before Im 80 the Proteas may finish big