The South African staff are one step away from enjoying in their first World Cup last, the place India or New Zealand await.
South Africa insist they won’t be burdened by scarring from their chequered file in World Cup knockout matches once they face previous rivals Australia on Thursday for a spot in the ultimate.
The Proteas have made 4 semi-final appearances in the showpiece — in 1992, 1999, 2007 and 2015 — however have fallen to defeat each time, twice dropping to Australia.
In 1999, they misplaced to Australia after a dramatic tie at Edgbaston which noticed their rivals undergo attributable to a greater group stage end.
Eight years later, South Africa went down by seven wickets after being bundled out for simply 149 at St Lucia.
Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, nevertheless, could possibly be the stage for redemption for South Africa who made the semi-finals by successful seven of their 9 league matches.
They have additionally been racking up spectacular totals together with the very best rating in World Cup historical past of 428 towards Sri Lanka.
Maxwell issue
The Proteas have received their final 4 conferences with Australia, together with a 134-run thrashing in the league stage in Lucknow 4 weeks in the past.
“There isn’t a lot of mystery about what’s lying ahead,” mentioned quick bowler Gerald Coetzee who has claimed 18 wickets in seven matches.
Five-time champions Australia are coming off seven straight wins on the match.
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 win over Afghanistan to take his match complete to 442 runs, additionally shrugged off previous disappointments.
“I was 10 years old (in 1999),” mentioned Van der Dussen. “In that year they had a really good chance to win the World Cup. I think we have a good chance as well.”
Leg-spinner Tabraiz Shamsi insisted the previous “doesn’t matter one bit”.
“We’re a different group of players. Before we got to the World Cup, nobody said that we’d be in the semi-final and here we are,” he instructed South Africa’s Independent media.
“That’s what propels this team – instead of feeling pressure, we see it as an opportunity to do something special. No South African men’s team has been in the World Cup final and that for us is very exciting because it is an opportunity to do something that no other team has done.”
Bavuma health fear
Australia opener Travis Head was 4 when the drama of Edgbaston was performed out in 1999 so prefers to concentrate on the problem forward.
“The boys have been invested for a long time so if we’re going to spend that much time here we might as well try and go the whole way,” mentioned Head.
“I’m positive everybody has considered that (making the ultimate).
“It hasn’t really been spoken about as a group, but we know what’s at the end of this tournament and what’s up for grabs.”
The health of South Africa captain Temba Bavuma stays a priority after he picked up a hamstring damage towards Afghanistan.
But Bavuma, who missed two group video games by means of sickness, is anticipated to play after he batted in 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 (earlier than India’s semi-final Wednesday).
The 30-year-old De Kock, who will give up one-day internationals on the finish of the match, has 4 centuries to his identify. One of these got here towards Australia in the group stage.
But 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.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa’s 22 wickets has put him on high of the bowling charts.
Opening batsman David Warner is one run wanting 500 together with two centuries and a highest of 163 in 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.
However, rain might play spoilsport with downpours forecast for Thursday in addition to Friday’s reserve day.
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