KOLKATA, Nov 14 (Reuters) - South Africa sense an opportunity to finally get rid of the choker's tag but the onerous task entails getting the better of the most successful team in the history of 50-overs World Cup, Australia, in Thursday's semi-final in Kolkata.
"Hurt by a combination of bad luck and nerves in the business end of showpiece event, South Africa are pitted against a powerhouse who thrive in those big moments as Australia have demonstrated with five titles.
South Africa, who have never progressed beyond the last four, are fretting over the availability of skipper Temba Bavuma, who is nursing a hamstring strain.
They have looked more comfortable setting targets than chasing one though, and they will expect more penetration from their bowlers against a resurgent Australia.
Regardless of how their group stage campaign ebbed and flowed, it came as no surprise when Australia hurled towards the knockout stages by stringing together seven wins in a row following that defeat by South Africa.
Persons:
Quinton de, Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Reeza Hendricks, Travis Head's, Glenn Maxwell's, Mitchell Marsh's, Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins, You've, Amlan Chakraborty, Pritha Sarkar
Organizations:
Bangladesh, Thomson
Locations:
KOLKATA, Africa, Australia, Thursday's, Kolkata, South Africa, India, Lucknow . South Africa, Kock, Afghanistan, Bangladesh