AUS vs SA ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final: Will South Africa get pass the Australia juggernaut in World Cups

As the World Cup is moving towards its business end, we have our got our first semi-finalists of the tournament and South Africa who will take on their old rivals and five-time champions Australia in the semis. 

South Africa has locked horns with Australia twice in the knockout stages of World Cups. Both were in the semi-finals in 1999 and 2007 respectively. 2007 was a one-sided affair when the rampant Australians stamped their opposition without any struggle. But the 1999 World Cup semi-finals between both these teams was a match that has been etched in the annals of cricketing history as one of the greatest World Cup matches ever.

The 1999 ODI World Cup between both these teams was a tie and Australia marched on to the semi-finals as they had beaten South Africa earlier in the Super Sixes stage. That day a new rivalry was born between these two proud cricketing nations and the highest run chase ever of 434 runs by South Africa in the home ODI series against Australia further propelled this iconic rivalry.

How have both the teams fared in the group stage?

Currently after 6 matches, South Africa is sitting at the 2nd spot in the points table. South Africa’s bathing has been a revelation in the tournament so far as they have been amassing 350 and 400 runs for fun and their bowlers have also been complimenting their batting well.

But the biggest problem for South Africa has been batting second as both the matches that they lost in the tournament were while chasing and were not even close to chasing the targets in the matches they lost. Australia will look to exploit this weakness of South Africa in the semi-finals.

On the other hand, Australia will be riding high in confidence after their last match against Afghanistan where they managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat courtesy of Maxwell’s unrealistic double ton. Australia after losing their initial two matches have been on a roll after winning 6 consecutive matches and will enter into the semis brimming with confidence.

What could we expect in the semi-finals?

Both the teams are top cricketing nations with a rich history of tight battles between them, therefore the fans can expect a mouth-watering between both the teams in the semi-finals. South Africa has had an upper hand against Australia by beating them in the bilateral series just before the World Cup and then again got the better of the Aussies in the league stage of the tournament.

But Australia will still come out as favourites in the semi-finals as they have a knack for Championships and know how to win big matches whereas South Africa is famous for succumbing under pressure in key situations of knockout matches.