[Idiom] upset the apple cart-Intented Meaning?

[Kumar Nadimuthu]

AB de Villiers and JP Duminy looked to steady South Africa's innings, but with Duminy too getting out to Mohammad Irfan's bowling, Pakistan looked set to upset the apple-cart and defeat the Proteas.


I found it means spoiling opponent plans, Is there any story behind it? (apple-cart..?)

 

[Tdol]

It's a standard idiom. I assume it's because if you upset an apple-cart, it will take a long time to pick them all up and put them back.