Australia's credentials keep S Africa grounded before semis

KOLKATA : South Africa captain Temba Bavuma senses they are on the cusp of something special at the 50-overs World Cup but it is the pedigree of their opponents, five-time champions Australia, which is keeping them grounded ahead of Thursday's semi-final.

South Africa have never progressed beyond the semi-finals of the tournament, impeded by a combination of bad luck and nerves, but they have looked formidable this time winning seven of their nine group matches.

"With the way we've performed as a team, it's obviously created a lot of positive sentiments and obviously high expectation," said Bavuma, who is doubtful for the match with a hamstring strain.

"A lot of people believe that this could be the year that we see ourselves in the final. As a team, and individually, we'd like nothing better than that."

For that, they would have to get the better of Australia, the most successful team in the history of the tournament, who began their campaign with back-to-back defeats but have since won seven in a row to waltz into the last four.

The enormity of the challenge was not lost on Bavuma despite South Africa's comprehensive victory against Australia in a group match last month.

"We're not coming up against a Mickey Mouse team. Australia have a lot of experience and confidence in knockout games like this, so we've got to respect that," Bavuma said.

"I think from our performances, from the processes that we've followed to get to this point, we'll continue to lean on that and we believe that will take care of the result."

Bavuma did not deny a "normal level of anxiety" prevailing in the Proteas dressing room but said they had the "solutions and mechanisms" to deal with that.

Drawing inspiration from South Africa rugby team's World Cup