3 key battles to watch out for in the Australia vs South Africa World Cup semi-final

South Africa will face Australia in the second semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2023 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday (November 16).

The Proteas have progressed in the tournament, winning seven out of nine games, with their only two defeats against India and Netherlands. Australia have also won seven out of nine games, suffering losses against India and South Africa.

In head-to-head encounters, Australia and South Africa have met in World Cups seven times, each winning three matches, with one match ending in a tie.

The South Africa-Australia semi-final will feature several player clashes, as both teams boast exceptional match-winners.

Here are three epic clashes fans might witness:

1. Quinton de Kock vs Mitchell Starc

• South Africa’s top batter against Australia’s key bowler in the semi-finals.
• In the previous match, de Kock scored a century against Australia before being dismissed by Glenn Maxwell.

   

• The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter has scored a massive 591 runs in 9 matches, including four centuries, ranking as the tournament's second top-scorer.
• Mitchell Starc will target de Kock’s wicket, having previously troubled South African batters.
• Starc, who has announced his retirement, has claimed 10 scalps so far in the tournament.

2. Glenn Maxwell vs Marco Jansen

• Remember Maxwell's remarkable 201-run knock in the last match against Afghanistan. He will arguably be the most exciting player to watch in the semi-final.

   

• The batting all-rounder has amassed 397 runs in the tournament, including a century against Netherlands.
• He will face South Africa’s bowling all-rounder Marco Jansen, perhaps the fiercest bowler in the South African pace unit.
• Jansen has bagged 17 wickets in the World Cup so far and is known for his aggressive game, something the Kangaroos are adept at.

3. Adam Zampa vs Rassie Van der Dussen

• To be brief, no spinner in South Africa can match the caliber of Adam Zampa. The combined tally of South Africa’s spinners, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, doesn't equal Zampa’s wickets in the World Cup.

   

• With 22 wickets, Adam Zampa is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, securing four-wicket hauls against Netherlands, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
• However, SA’s Rassie van der Dussen could trouble the Australian bowlers, especially the spinners if he gets going.
• Dussen’s World Cup campaign began with a century against Sri Lanka, and since then, the right-handed batter has scored 449 runs in 9 matches, including two centuries.
• Alongside de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen can pose difficulties for Australia’s bowling unit.