South Africa head into the knockout clash as the only unbeaten side at the global showpiece on the subcontinent. However, there will be no second chances when they come up against the team from the Land of the Long White Cloud.

During the group stage, the Proteas thumped the Kiwis by seven wickets in Ahmedabad, and they will take plenty of confidence from that result. That said, a semi-final is a different beast altogether. The clash in Kolkata brings new conditions, and both sides will raise their intensity with a place in the final on the line.

A win for South Africa will see them reach just their second T20 World Cup final. The title, however, still eludes the Proteas after their heartbreaking seven-run defeat to India national cricket team in the West Indies during the 2024 final.

The squad believe that loss has provided valuable lessons, which could stand them in good stead this time around.

For years, South Africa have carried the underdog tag in semi-finals, often falling agonisingly short. This time, though, the script has flipped - they enter as favourites to progress and potentially face either England cricket team or India in the final.

The captains Mitchell Santner and Aiden Markram - Cricinfo

Proteas coach Shukri Conrad played down the pressure of knockout cricket but admitted the team welcomes the favourites tag.

“There’s always pressure - it’s about what you do with it and how you manage it,” said Conrad.

“As for the ‘C word’ (choking), maybe there’s another word for it - cupcakes. But seriously, it’s about embracing the pressure. We’re not doing anything differently.

“We’ll prepare exactly the same way for New Zealand. Maybe we’re favourites because we’re unbeaten, but I don’t think that adds pressure. A semi-final brings enough pressure on its own.

Quinton de Kock and Mark Chapman - Cricinfo

“Playing a top side like New Zealand is pressure enough. There’s no added burden, and I’m glad we’re favourites. As a South African team, you want to be in that position - it’s easy being the underdog because expectations aren’t that high.

“Now we’ve got that tag, even though we don’t talk about it much. If we keep doing what we’ve been doing, and get a bit of luck along the way, hopefully that will be enough on Wednesday - and then it’s on to our ‘home ground’ in Ahmedabad.”

Wednesday’s eagerly anticipated semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand at the iconic Eden Gardens is scheduled to get underway at 15:30.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport