Australia face South Africa in 2nd semi-final today

KOLKATA, Nov 15 (Agencies): Australia, who have won the ODI World Cup five times, faced a defeat against South Africa in the league stage. But the Aussies have been a different team since their two opening defeats, winning their next seven matches to storm into the semis; and they will have a contest on hand in their semi-final against the Proteas on Thursday, who have been the second most consistent team in the tournament.

South Africa finished No. 2 on the points table, a spot ahead of Australia.

Despite a recent ODI series loss to South Africa in September, Australia have a strong track record against their rivals, having triumphed over them twice in World Cup semi-finals.

Australia skipper Pat Cummins said his players will draw on experience from previous title wins in their World Cup semi-final clash with South Africa, spurred on by Glenn Maxwell's heroics having given them "an extra leg".

Five-time winners Australia went down to the Proteas in the league stage by 134 runs before they won seven straight matches to make the semi-final in Kolkata on Thursday.

Australia, who lost an ODI series in South Africa in September, have beaten their rivals twice in World Cup semi-finals.

"You start from scratch every time you play," Cummins told reporters. "They're a team we've played quite a lot and know quite well."

"I think what helps us is we've got a lot of guys that have been in this situation before that have won the one-day World Cup, T20 World Cup, various other tournaments in big moments. So, I think that really helps. You can draw on that in the middle of the contest."

The most dramatic World Cup semi-final between the two teams was a tied match in Edgbaston in 1999 with Australia moving into the final due to a better group stage finish.

Cummins said "the 99 World Cup one, it's kind of folklore, isn't it? I've seen that replay heaps of times, you hear the stories."

Cummins, along with David Warner, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood was part of Australia's 2015 World Cup triumph at home and their maiden T20 World Cup title win in Dubai in 2021.

At this World Cup, Australia began with two losses including a defeat to India in their opener but have been on a roll since and Cummins takes inspiration from the winning streak.

"You can either build it up as the most important game of your life, or you can business as usual, really," Cummins said.

Meanwhile, South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma on Wednesday warned they are not up against a "Mickey Mouse team" in their World Cup semi-final against Australia amid feverish expectation of reaching their first championship match.

The Proteas won seven of their nine league matches to finish second in the 10-team table to book a final-four clash in Kolkata on Thursday.

That run included a 134-rout of the Australians at Lucknow four weeks ago.

Five-time champions Australia are coming off seven straight wins at the tournament.

"A lot of people believe that this could be the year that we see ourselves in the final," Bavuma, who remains doubtful to play the semi-final due his hamstring injury, told reporters.