By Martin Gough
BBC Sport in Johannesburg
Herschelle Gibbs kicked down the dressing room door in frustration when he found his 143 was not enough to prevent South Africa slipping to a crucial loss to New Zealand.
Gibbs' superb knock proved to be in vain
"It's not often that you get a big hundred and end up losing," the opening batsman explained.
"But Stephen Fleming's century was special and you've got to give him credit for that."
New Zealand captain Fleming hit an unbeaten 134 in the rain-affected match as the Black Caps clinched a nine-wicket win under the Duckworth-Lewis calculations.
The result leaves South Africa needing to win their three remaining matches against Bangladesh, Canada and Sri Lanka, and for other results to go their way, if they are to progress to the second round.
"It was disappointing," Gibbs added. "It's never nice for your fate to lie with other teams but I still believe we have a chance.
"I'm sure the guys are feeling down and under pressure because we started the World Cup with good ideas and intentions.
"But cricket is a brilliant game because you can never be sure of the outcome no matter how hard you plan."
Shaun Pollock is quite new and he's still got a lot to learn
Gibbs admitted the side missed former captain Hansie Cronje, who died tragically in a plane crash last May, two years after being handed a life ban for his involvement in match-fixing.
"Hansie's leadership skills made him an icon," he said.
"He had such passion that you always knew he believed the team could win
from any situation.
"Shaun Pollock is quite new and he's still got a lot to learn but he was the first guy to put his hand up after the whole thing blew up."
Gibbs fielded at backward point against New Zealand, performing athletically in the place recently vacated by Jonty Rhodes, who announced his retirement last week after breaking a finger.
"I can't fill Jonty's boots," he conceded.
"His reaction and speed on the field is something that probably won't be matched for 20 years."