Faf du Plessis admitted South Africa's limp World Cup exit was embarrassing as the furious captain branded his under-performing team "mediocre" and challenged them to take responsibility for their disastrous showing.
The Proteas cannot qualify for the semi-finals after slumping to a 49-run defeat against fellow strugglers Pakistan at Lord's on Sunday. With two games to play, South Africa have failed to make the knockout stages for only the second time.
The tame manner of their elimination was tough for Du Plessis to swallow as he watched his side struggle to 259-9 in response to Pakistan's 308-7. "The results we are dishing out at the moment, it's tough. The way we played today is borderline embarrassing," Du Plessis said. "It started with our bowling. There were a lot of bad balls on a wicket where if you just bowled line and length it was going to be hard for them.
