Regardless of enduring defeats in all 4 of their earlier semifinal appearances in 1992, 1999, 2007, and 2015, the Proteas are resolute of their pursuit of redemption.
Notably, two of these losses got here by the hands of Australia, with the 1999 conflict at Edgbaston ending in a dramatic tie, finally favouring Australia as a result of a superior group stage efficiency. In 2007, South Africa confronted a seven-wicket defeat after being restricted to simply 149 runs at St Lucia.
The upcoming match at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens offers a chance for South Africa to rewrite their semifinal narrative.
Their journey to this stage has been spectacular, securing a semifinal berth by profitable seven out of 9 league matches, together with a historic second of posting the best rating in World Cup historical past with 428 towards Sri Lanka.
Including to their confidence is the truth that South Africa has emerged victorious of their final 4 encounters with Australia, together with a convincing 134-run win throughout the league stage of this World Cup in Lucknow simply 4 weeks in the past.
“There is not lots of thriller about what’s mendacity forward,” stated quick bowler Gerald Coetzee who has claimed 18 wickets in seven matches.
“We will get calmness out of that, realizing what to anticipate.”
5-time winners Australia are coming off seven straight wins.
That run included Glenn Maxwell’s one-man rescue mission when his unbeaten 201 led Australia to victory from the brink of defeat at 91-7 towards Afghanistan.
Rassie van der Dussen, who made 76 in South Africa’s concluding group stage win over Afghanistan to take his match complete to 442 runs, additionally shrugged off previous disappointments.
“I used to be 10 years previous (in 1999), so I do not keep in mind an excessive amount of,” stated Van der Dussen.
“In that 12 months that they had a very good probability to win the World Cup. I believe we’ve got an excellent probability as nicely.”
Australia opener Travis Head was 4 when the drama of Edgbaston was performed out in 1999 so prefers to give attention to the problem forward.
“The boys have been invested for a very long time so if we will spend that a lot time right here we’d as nicely try to go the entire means,” stated Head.
“We have put in lots of arduous work during the last couple of months to get to this stage, so we wish to take advantage of it.”
The health of South Africa captain Temba Bavuma stays a priority after he picked up a hamstring harm towards Afghanistan.
However Bavuma is anticipated to play on Thursday after he batted within the nets at Eden Gardens.
South African batting has stood out on the World Cup.
Opener Quinton de Kock’s 591 runs is second solely to the 594 of Virat Kohli.
The 30-year-old De Kock, who will stop one-day internationals on the finish of the match, has 4 centuries to his title.
A kind of got here towards Australia within the group stage.
However chasing stays a problem for the Proteas as their two defeats — towards India and the Netherlands — each got here batting second.
Australia have mastered chases.
After Maxwell’s epic knock towards Afghanistan, Mitchell Marsh smashed an unbeaten 177 as Australia overhauled the 306 of Bangladesh with 32 balls and eight wickets to spare of their final league match.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa’s 22 wickets has put him on high of the bowling charts.
Opening batsman David Warner is one run in need of 500 together with two centuries and a highest of 163 within the win over Pakistan.
Left-arm fast Mitchell Starc and Maxwell each missed the sport with Afghanistan however are anticipated to return for what can be Australia’s eighth semi-final in 13 editions.
Nevertheless, rain might play spoilsport with downpours forecast for Thursday in addition to Friday’s reserve day.
(With AFP Inputs)
