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Given their form going into Wednesday's T20 World Cup semi-final, South Africa expected to compete better against New Zealand but are philosophical about their nine-wicket defeat ​in a format where momentum can swing quickly.
South Africa had won ‌all seven of their games going into the last-four clash, with five of those wins coming in Ahmedabad, but stumbled when faced with a different set of conditions in Kolkata, where ​the ball did not come onto the bat as smoothly.
They set New ​Zealand a below-par 170 to win and their opponents easily chased ⁠it down with 43 deliveries remaining on the back of Finn Allen’s ​unbeaten 33-ball 100.
It marked yet another World Cup failure for the South Africans, who ​are still seeking a first title, but captain Aiden Markram said there was no other option but to look ahead to the next tournament.
"We'll reflect as a group," Markram said. "But I’m ​very proud of these guys. They played some really good cricket throughout this ​competition and it was just an unfortunate evening, really.
"The halfway point, we really felt like we ‌had ⁠a sniff. But then, as it goes in T20 cricket, their powerplay got off to a flyer, and you can't protect every boundary. They got away, and then from there it was really hard to pull it back.
"All you do is ​you break down ​the game and ⁠try to find the areas that could have been better. And you get back on the horse and you try ​and improve as a group and as individuals. And hopefully that ​puts ⁠you in good stead for the future."
South Africa’s next assignment is a five-match T20 series in New Zealand starting on March 15, though only three of the World Cup ⁠squad, ​spinners Keshav Maharaj and George Linde, and all-rounder ​Jason Smith, will take part.
New Zealand will meet the winner of Thursday's second semi between co-hosts India ​and England in the final on Sunday.