Bavuma's Proteas wanting to stay calm before making a play in the big New Zealand semi

ICC tournament semifinals are meant to be nervous affairs. Especially if you’re South African. 

The ghastly past dating back all the way to 1992 simply has a way of rearing its ugly head. All the trauma. The heartache. The misery relived and rehashed. 

But something seems different in 2025 as the Proteas prepare to face New Zealand in the second ICC Champions Trophy semifinal in Lahore on Wednesday. 

Customarily having to travel between two countries unnecessarily on the eve of a semifinal would unnerve Proteas teams of the past. Or more importantly, the fact that they had to wait on their superstar batter Aiden Markram to pass a fitness test.

But despite all of these potential drawbacks, the Proteas seem to be taking it all in their stride. Marco Jansen played some golf, and Heinrich Klaasen enjoyed a night out feasting on a steak.

And now captain Temba Bavuma, who himself has only just recovered from a bout of illness, cut a calm and collected figure on Tuesday. 

Perhaps it has to do with the fact the Proteas finally broke the ICC semifinal curse last year at the T20 World Cup in Trinidad, although Bavuma was not there with the team ironically led by Markram. 

Regardless, Bavuma is not allowing any anxiety to build up and possibly influence his team’s performance. 

“We'll approach it as we normally would,” Bavuma said.  

“We understand New Zealand will obviously come with a certain challenge and we'll have to prepare accordingly, but I think Markram said it, it's just another game, another game for us. 

“Yes, it's important, but we definitely won't be blowing it out of proportion. It's the semi-final and we want to play our best cricket.”

So, there’ll be no clammy hands, hearts pounding and stomach turning moments. Just two teams that actually rarely face each other in ODI cricket going toe-to-toe trying to execute to the best of their ability.

The major battle will likely be between the two bowling attacks with both teams relying heavily on their seam attack to strike in the Powerplay.

Black Caps spearhead Matt Henry, fresh off a five-for against India, is in the form of his life along with the supremely talented Will O’Rourke and Kyle Jamieson. 

They are matched pound-for-pound by the Proteas strikeforce led by the irrepressible Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi. 

Bavuma, certainly, knows that the Proteas’ batters upfront will need to absorb the early pressure the Black Caps will impose to allow the powerful middle-order to express themselves later on in the contest.

“I think their bowling as a whole in New Zealand, it's quite a formidable one. It's quite a disciplined bowling attack. Up front, the guys with the new ball, they don't give you much to score from, so you really got to be decisive as an opening batter,” he said.

“And then in the middle, you've got guys who, again, don't give you much to score from, and are able to kind of squeeze the game and force you to make a mistake. So, I think, as batters, we know that we're going to have to work hard. 

“We're going to have to bat ourselves into a position where we can almost make the play against them, which is no different to how we generally go about our batting innings. 

“But I think we're also quite confident in our bowling attack. So, I think it'll be a good show and offering between the two bowling attacks. I don't think there's a lot between the two bowling attacks. I guess it will be up to whoever shows up and executes on the day.”

The Proteas have added Western Province allrounder George Linde to their squad as a travelling reserve whilst Markram passed his fitness test on Tuesday evening, making him available for selection in Lahore on Wednesday.

The winner of the Lahore semifinal will travel to Dubai to face India, who beat Australia in the first semifinal.

SQUADS FOR LAHORE

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (captain), Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen.

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young, Jacob Duffy.

Start: 11am (SA time)