South Africa will lock horns against Australia in the second semifinal of the ongoing World Cup 2023 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Thursday. The Proteas will look to extinguish their ghosts of the past and come up with a complete performance against Australia, a team that has always held its ground in big matches.
South Africa has suffered numerous heartbreaks in the semifinals of big events but they have played like a champion team in the ongoing showpiece. A few weeks earlier, South Africa won the Rugby World Cup and the cricket team will now look to book their final berth for the first time.
Earlier in the tournament, the Proteas had beaten Australia comprehensively by 134 runs but there is no doubt that it will be a different ball game altogether in the knockout match. South Africa has been a force to reckon with whenever they have batted first but they have looked vulnerable when they have batted second in the competition.
Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, and Aiden Markram have done the lion’s share of the scoring for the Rainbow Nation.
On the other hand, Australia lost their opening two matches however bounced back like they always do. Australia’s batting is clicking as a unit as the likes of Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, and David Warner have performed consistently. Adam Zampa has been right on the money in the middle over, bagging 22 wickets but the fast bowling unit hasn’t yet come to the party and it wouldn’t be a bad time for them to join in.
Match Prediction: Australia might enter this contest as slight favorites against South Africa.
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.
South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams.
