South Africa face test of nerves and Afghanistan in World Cup semis

South Africa's bid to lift a first major cricket trophy could come down to whether they can finally shed the unwanted tag of "chokers" and the latest test of their nerves will be against Afghanistan in Wednesday's Twenty20 World Cup semi-final.

The Proteas have competed in seven semi-finals over both short format World Cups but have never reached a title match, although they will be happy to avoid Australia this time around having lost to them three times in the last four.

The perennial under-achievers of international cricket are on a hot streak, with solid bowling displays helping them power through the group and Super Eight stages.

Their batting has impressed Aiden Markram less, however, and the South Africa captain is looking to that area for improvement ahead of their semi-final in Trinidad.

"We've been doing really well and the bowling unit has been firing for us, which has been fantastic," Markram said after his team ended the campaign of co-hosts West Indies in a shootout for a semi-final spot on Sunday.

"From a batting point of view, we need to be more clinical. Understanding when the right time is to really take the game on, and maybe understanding when the right time is to knock around for a couple of overs."

South Africa will be encouraged by how several players have stepped up in tense situations to keep their 100 per cent record intact after seven matches so far and they will eye another collective effort to subdue Afghanistan.

"We haven't played our best game of cricket yet," Markram said.

"So we'll try and put our best game of cricket together for that semi-final."

BIG ACHIEVEMENT

After stunning Australia in their penultimate Super Eight match, the plucky Afghans ensured the 2021 champions were sent packing from