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South Africa captain Aiden Markram says his team’s group stage win against New Zealand means nothing in the T20 World Cup semi-finals, which will be a “completely new start”.
Both teams will clash in the first semi-final on Wednesday at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, but neither team has ever won a Cricket World Cup in either the 20-over or 50-over format.
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South Africa are the only unbeaten team in the last four and are looking to shake off their reputation for suffocating in the final stages of World Cups.
They are the team to beat in this tournament, beating New Zealand by seven wickets in the group match played in Ahmedabad on February 15.
“We performed well against them in the group stage, but both teams have played a lot of cricket since then,” Markram told reporters on Tuesday.
“(Wednesday) is a brand new start and it’s the semi-final so that’s exciting too.
“I don’t think it’s going to be easy enough to repeat that. We’ll try to bring our best game to the forefront again.”
South Africa suffered a heartbreaking defeat against India in the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Barbados. They needed 30 off 30 balls for six wickets, but the wickets clashed and they lost by seven runs.
The Proteas had defeated India and West Indies in the Super Eights and were marked by many as favorites to lift the trophy.
“As far as who’s the favorite or not, it’s all a matter of different opinions,” Markram said.
“We are just trying to focus as a team on putting together a good game of cricket and playing the exciting brand that we have been trying to play for the last 18 months or so.”
Markram led South Africa with 268 runs, including three half-centuries, and finished with a top score of 86 not out in seven matches.
He holds an impressive captaincy record with 15 wins from 16 T20 World Cup matches, with his only loss coming in the 2024 final.
“The seniors on the team, we rely on them a lot. They guide you and guide you when you have a little bit of doubt,” Markrum said.
“I think because of that and a really strong group of players over the years, we’ve developed that. Fortunately, that reflects well, but it’s definitely a reflection on the group as a whole.”
New Zealand ‘reclaims itself’ as outsider ahead of T20 World Cup
Underdogs New Zealand, meanwhile, will defend themselves against everyone in a “one-off game”, says captain Mitchell Santner.
Santner admitted Markram’s unbeaten South Africa side were “very good”.
New Zealand have lost twice in this tournament, losing to England in the Super Eights and reaching the semi-finals with a better net run rate than Pakistan.
“I think for us, whether you want to call us underdogs or not, it’s been everyone’s goal throughout the tournament to get to this stage,” Santner told reporters at Eden Gardens.
“We’re here now, supporting ourselves in one-shot matches against most teams and making sure we can adapt as quickly as possible to what’s in front of us.
“As they showed, South Africa look very well dressed.
“I think they are in the same position as us now. One more game and we will be in the final,” the left-arm spinner said.
New Zealand will be playing in their fourth semi-final in the last five T20 World Cups. They reached the final in 2021, but lost to Australia.
Santner added: “These are probably two teams that have been fighting in and out for a long time. We know the heartbreak of South Africa two years ago.”
“The winner is the one who shows up on the day and the one who sees the conditions the best.”
New Zealand were the only semi-finalist to lose more than once in the tournament, with Afghanistan and co-hosts Sri Lanka the only two other nations to win the Tests to advance to the last four.
Coach Santner said, “We have never played a perfect game in this tournament.”
“That’s good for us. If we can put everything together, we’ll be in a pretty good position.
“There are no real secrets or secrets about what South Africa brings.
“We know they’re probably going to field the same team, and a very good team.”
New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry returned home to give birth to his second child after losing to England in Colombo on Friday.
Santner said the bowlers will be back late Tuesday night.
“He’ll obviously be running around a bit in the morning to make sure he’s ready to go.”
