Juggernaut South Africa faces test against New Zealand for spot in T20 World Cup final

[p]The Proteas are the tournament's only unbeaten side and look a ‌far more rounded T20 unit than the one that fell at ‌the last hurdle in 2024. They beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/G6PWlrQB/"]New Zealand[/a] in the group stage and ‌have earned the favourites' tag that rested with defending champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/india/fcOzl2uI/"]India[/a] ‌before the start of the tournament.[/p][p]India face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/UJC5mtAU/"]England[/a] in the other semi-final on Thursday.[/p][p][b]"I'm glad that we're favourites, because I've always felt that as a South African team you ‌want to be able to play as a favourite," ⁠head coach Shukri Conrad said, suggesting ‌they were enjoying the spotlight.[/b][/p][p]Since surviving a double Super Over against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/afghanistan/fPvTErSo/"]Afghanistan[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/markram-aiden/t2HJVWpB/"]Aiden ​Markram[/a]'s side have not taken their foot off the pedal.[/p][p]In [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-kock-quinton/x49jXCwB/"]Quinton de Kock[/a], Markram and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rickelton-ryan/xOotum0C/"]Ryan Rickelton[/a], they field a top order ​capable of banking a powerplay head-start, with an explosive middle order offering little respite when the openers do not fire.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-africa/tUhlKzIm/"]South Africa[/a] complement it with a ⁠varied bowling attack.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rabada-kagiso/jRmmeilR/"]Kagiso Rabada[/a]'s ​hard, test-match lengths and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jansen-marco/6ey7qlc3/"]Marco Jansen[/a]'s left‑arm bounce have cramped batters, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ngidi-lungi/fZWl9EcE/"]Lungi Ngidi[/a]'s change-ups have been a revelation across phases.[/p][embed guid="3e62be88-46e1-49a7-a7a6-8bc5e46ddd9a" url="https://x.com/ProteasMenCSA/status/2028117610869518585" social-type="twitter" /][p]Left‑arm spinner [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maharaj-keshav/lOlAEUyc/"]Keshav Maharaj[/a] provides control if conditions grip, with Markram holding himself back for match‑ups.[/p][h2]Knockout challenge[/h2][p]South Africa ‌have looked ominous so far, but the knockout stage brings its own challenge. Besides, New Zealand can be a tricky opponent.[/p][p]New Zealand opener [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/allen-finn/WUFfwo8t/"]Finn Allen[/a]'s ultra-aggression is often the powerplay disruptor alongside a rotating partner - [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/conway-devon/IHgoblkD/"]Devon Conway[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/seifert-tim/YTiWO6ug/"]Tim Seifert[/a].[/p][p]All-rounder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ravindra-rachin/dUUEqLzI/"]Rachin Ravindra[/a]'s ability to change gears sets a platform for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/phillips-glenn/4AyAlnRM/"]Glenn Phillips[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mitchell-daryl/CAaek61U/"]Daryl Mitchell[/a] to attack the back end.[/p][p]Their pace attack does not have a settled look, though.[/p][p]The Black Caps are likely to miss the services of fast bowler [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/henry-matt/M3i3eKPE/"]Matt Henry[/a], who is back ‌home on paternity leave. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/duffy-jacob/UcEm4zS1/"]Jacob Duffy[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jamieson-kyle/jyYIDqGo/"]Kyle Jamieson[/a] could replace him.[/p][p]Their spin ​unit looks well covered, however.[/p][p]Captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/santner-mitchell/WrKSVkXJ/"]Mitchell Santner[/a]'s stump‑to‑stump trajectory is a ‌key match‑up against de Kock and Markram, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sodhi-ish/bJgSX1RG/"]Ish Sodhi[/a]'s leg-spin could trouble South Africa's right‑hand middle.[/p][p][b]"We faced them in Ahmedabad, which I think is a venue that they've grown pretty used to given that they've spent a fair bit of time there," New Zealand's head ⁠coach Rob Walter said.[/b][/p][p][b]"The semi‑finals will ⁠be in a different venue. ‌It will provide a different challenge."[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/cricket/new-zealand-G6PWlrQB/south-africa-tUhlKzIm/?mid=xMIHPzWI"]Follow the game with Flashscore.[/a][/p]