Unbeaten Proteas run into the doughty Kiwis

They have been here, but not done that.

- Somshuvra Laha

South Africa's Tristan Stubbs (L), Quinton de Kock (C) and David Miller during training.

(AFP)

Two sides long defined by composure, adaptability and, at times, heartbreak, now stand one game away from another shot at the ultimate prize.Look up South Africa and New Zealand's history to understand the fickleness and cruelty of sport. They don't complain though. They keep trying.

This semifinal is about learning from the past and exorcising the ghosts and pains of not being able to go all the way. Expect athleticism, sublime catching and smart cricket. If tournaments are about peaking at the right time, both teams have arrived here by different but equally compelling routes. Unbeaten, tactically supreme, South Africa have impressed by resisting the urge to play one-dimensional, high-risk T20 cricket. Instead, they've blended strategy with bursts of power, a template that has served them well in pressure games.

Aiden Markram’s leadership has been central. His batting previously focused on anchoring the middle overs against spin but now he has reinvented his cricket by attacking the bowlers in the Powerplay itself.