South Africa and Australia will play in the second semifinal of the ICC World Cup 2023. The spotlight is on the clash between these two cricket giants, set to unfold at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The match will kick off at 2:30 pm Bangladesh time on November 16, 2023. Preview of SA vs AUS ODI in ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 South Africa is up against Australia, which seems to be the rematch of the 1999 World Cup edition. The South African team led by Temba Bavuma has been impressive, winning seven out of nine games in the tournament. Their only losses were against India and, surprisingly, the Netherlands. The South African team has a strong batting lineup in this World Cup, evident in their dominant performance against Sri Lanka, where they set the highest score of 428 in the World Cup. Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, and especially Quinton de Kock are in excellent form in the current ODI tournament. Quinton de Kock, who appears to be in his last ODI World Cup, has been notably outstanding, accumulating a total of 591 runs during the group stage. However, there's uncertainty about their captain, Bavuma, as he is doubtful to start due to a hamstring injury sustained in the match against Afghanistan. Read more: New Zealand tour of Bangladesh in 2023-2024: Schedules, Fixtures, Team In terms of fast bowlers, South Africa hasn't felt the absence of the injured Anrich Nortje much. Players like Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, and Kagiso Rabada have given their best. Coetzee, in particular, has been impressive, taking 18 wickets in the group stage of the tournament. Jansen, who also contributes with the bat, has secured 17 wickets. The upcoming match at Eden Gardens, renowned for aiding both pacers and batters, promises to be an exciting viewing experience. In contrast, Australia experienced a slow start in the World Cup. They faced setbacks with consecutive losses to India and South Africa, impacting their early standing. Nevertheless, the Australian team quickly recovered, securing wins against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and New Zealand. Key players like David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, and Travis Head have been making significant contributions with the bat. Notable moments include Maxwell's explosive 201-run performance against Afghanistan and Marsh's impressive 177-run innings against Bangladesh. Although Mitchell Starc hasn't been taking many wickets, Adam Zampa has been a standout performer for Australia, with an impressive haul of 22 wickets in the World Cup group stage. This incredible performance put them in the favorite position in the World Cup. The Australian team is eager to turn the tables and avenge their 134-run loss against South Africa in match 10 of the ongoing tournament. Read more: ICC unveils prize money for 2023 Cricket World Cup South Africa vs Australia Head to Head in ODI In the 109 head-to-head ODI matches between South Africa and Australia, South Africa holds the edge. They have secured victory 55 times, while Australia has won 50 times. Interestingly, three matches, including a World Cup semifinal, concluded in a tie, and one match had no result. Out of South Africa's 55 wins, 27 came while batting first and 28 while chasing. On the other hand, Australia achieved 17 victories when chasing and 33 when setting a target. It sets the stage for a closely contested match, given the history of competition between these two cricketing powerhouses. In the history of the ODI World Cup, South Africa and Australia have faced each other seven times. Their record is evenly matched, with both teams securing three victories each. Notably, their encounter in the 1999 semi final ended in a tie, adding a dramatic chapter to their World Cup history. Table: South Africa vs Australia Head-to-Head ODI Matches So Far Stats Matches South Africa Won Australia Won No Result Tie Overall 109 55 50 1 3 ODI World Cups 7 3 3 0 1 Predicted South Africa XI Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi. Predicted Australia XI Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marnus Labuschagne/Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Australia Men's ODI Squad Analysis Key South African Players to Watch Quinton de Kock Undoubtedly, all attention will be on Quinton de Kock in the semifinals. As of the end of the group stage, he stands as the second-highest run-scorer in the competition, scoring an impressive 591 runs with an average of 65.66. De Kock has been in exceptional form, hitting four centuries in this edition. The team would certainly appreciate it if he could add one more to his tally in the upcoming match. His performance will likely play a crucial role in determining South Africa's success in the semifinals. Heinrich Klaasen Heinrich Klaasen is a hard hitter who makes a significant impact, showcasing a striking rate of 140.51 in this competition. He particularly excels when facing spinners and could be the one to challenge the in-form Adam Zampa. Given his proficiency in facing spin bowling, Klaasen emerges as a player to watch closely, and his performance may have a crucial impact in the upcoming match. Kagiso Rabada South Africa's bowling is strong and balanced, thanks to the reliable Kagiso Rabada. He's an experienced and dependable fast bowler who grabbed 29 wickets against Australia with an average of 24.96. Rabada's skill and know-how make him a key player in South Africa's bowling lineup, and he'll be crucial in the upcoming match against Australia. Read more: Bangladesh's Overall Performance Analysis in the ICC World Cup 2023 Key Australian Players to Watch David Warner The Australian batting lineup is packed with powerful hitters, and this strength extends deep into the order. David Warner, in particular, has consistently performed well throughout the tournament, scoring a total of 499 runs at an impressive average of 55.44. His contributions with the bat have been crucial, and he will likely play a key role in the upcoming match. Mitchell Marsh Mitchell Marsh recently delivered a remarkable unbeaten innings of 177 runs from 132 balls against Bangladesh. His outstanding performance played a pivotal role in Australia successfully chasing a target of 307 with nearly six overs to spare. Marsh's impactful contribution adds another layer of strength to the Australian team as they head into the upcoming match. Adam Zampa Australia's bowling hasn't been particularly impressive, except for Adam Zampa's outstanding performance. The leg-spinner is leading the bowling charts in this World Cup, having taken an impressive 22 wickets at an average of 18.90. Zampa's remarkable form has been a standout for Australia in the tournament. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2026 2nd Round Qualifiers: BAN vs AUS Match Preview Final Words Australia and South Africa have a rich history of rivalry, filled with memorable contests, and this upcoming match promises to be another thrilling encounter. The last time these teams faced off in the tournament, South Africa dominated, winning by 134 runs. However, a lot has changed since then, and it's unlikely we'll see a repeat of that result. Australia enters the knockout stage with confidence, riding on a winning streak, and they are known to be tough opponents in such high-pressure situations. Considering Australia's current form, they are likely to come out on top in this contest in the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023. Read more: T Sports Bags Broadcasting Rights for BPL's Next Two Seasons and Bangladesh’s Home Series Till 2024

India and New Zealand are set to face off in the first semifinal of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15 at 2:30 pm Bangladesh time. Led by Rohit Sharma, India secured the top spot by winning eight consecutive games. On the other hand, New Zealand earned a spot in the top four with five wins in nine matches. Ahead of the big match, let's review the condition of each team. Preview of IND vs NZ ODI in the 2023 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup  India headed to the semifinal with great confidence as they won three consecutive matches against Sri Lanka, South Africa, and the Netherlands this month. In all three matches, they batted first and emerged victorious. In their previous encounter with New Zealand, India won the match while batting second. India In the midst of all the surprises and upsets that the 2023 ODI World Cup has delivered, one consistent factor stands out—India's unquestionable dominance throughout the tournament. India has three of the top eight run-scorers in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. The former captain, Virat Kohli, leads the charts with 594 runs in nine innings, followed by current captain Rohit Sharma with 503 runs and batter Shreyas Iyer with 421 runs, both in nine innings each. This collective dominance is quite significant. Furthermore, India has three bowlers among the top eight wicket-takers in the tournament. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah leads with 17 wickets in nine innings, followed by fellow fast bowler Mohammed Shami with 16 wickets in five innings, and spinner Ravindra Jadeja with 16 wickets in nine innings. Mohammed Siraj is a bit further down the list with 12 wickets in nine innings. Having won the Cricket World Cup twice, with the last victory in 2011, India is currently unbeaten at home and has several star players in excellent form. However, Hardik Pandya's absence from the squad could prove to be a significant factor for India, given that he was not only one of their key players but also served as the team's vice-captain. With Suryakumar Yadav taking his place at number 5 in the batting lineup, India has been playing with just five bowlers ever since Pandya was sidelined. Shubman Gill's comeback after recovering from dengue has led to him consistently opening the batting alongside Sharma since the match against Pakistan on October 14. And getting Shubman regularly in the team is a plus point for India. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: India ODI Squad Analysis New Zealand New Zealand should be thankful for securing four wins relatively early in their World Cup campaign, as they later experienced four consecutive defeats. However, a late victory over Sri Lanka pushed them into the semifinal stage of the tournament against the clear favorites for the title. Opener Rachin Ravindra and all-rounder Daryl Mitchell stand out as the top run-scorers for the Black Caps at the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Ravindra has accumulated 565 runs in nine innings, whereas Mitchell has notched up 418 runs in eight innings, registering three centuries in this tournament. The return to fitness of captain Kane Williamson is also a significant boost for the team. New Zealand's standout wicket-takers in this tournament are spinner Mitchell Santner and fast bowler Trent Boult, who have collectively taken 29 wickets. Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has contributed with 10 wickets. The absence of fiery Matt Henry, who took 11 wickets before leaving the tournament due to injury, is a potential concern. Despite being finalists in 2019 and 2015, New Zealand has never won the Cricket World Cup. As they aim for a third successive final, their recent bilateral ODI series record against India is not impressive. However, in a major tournament, a single win can correct past shortcomings. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2026 2nd Round Qualifiers: BAN vs AUS Match Preview Probable Starting XI for India Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj. Probable Starting XI for New Zealand Kane Williamson (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi and Trent Boult. IND vs NZ Head-to-head Records So Far In the 117 ODI matches played between India and New Zealand, India has the lead with 59 victories. However, New Zealand is a notable challenge for India. In the ODI World Cups, the two teams have faced each other ten times. New Zealand has won five of those matches, while India has emerged victorious in four, with one match ending without a result. Stats Matches India Won New Zealand Won No Result Tied Overall  117 59 50 7 1 ODI World Cups 10 4 5 1 0 World Cup 2023 1 1 0 0 0 Indian Players to Watch Rohit Sharma Rohit Sharma has been the standout batsman for India in this tournament, consistently providing explosive starts that have often put the team in a favorable position. However, when considering his suitability for the upcoming game, it's important to note that his current form is the primary factor in his favor. However, Rohit doesn't have a good record against New Zealand, and he has a 37.40 average from 26 innings against New Zealand. Virat Kohli Virat Kohli has been in excellent form during the tournament, scoring 594 runs in nine innings and currently ranking as the highest run-scorer. His impressive track record against New Zealand, with an average of 56.59 across 30 innings, and his fondness for batting at the Wankhede Stadium, where he has an average of 59.50, make him a crucial and essential choice for the upcoming game. Mohammed Shami Mohammed Shami has been in sensational form since entering the tournament. With an impressive 16 wickets in just four matches, Shami is proving to be unstoppable. His outstanding performance makes it impossible to overlook him for the upcoming game. Read more: Bangladesh’s matches in the 2nd Round Qualifiers of FIFA World Cup 2026: Schedules, Fixtures, Team New Zealand Players to Watch Rachin Ravindra The most significant topic of conversation in this tournament has revolved around Rachin Ravindra and his impressive batting performance. With a total of 565 runs in nine innings, he currently holds the title of the third-highest run-scorer in the World Cup 2023. Considering his incredible  form, Ravindra is undoubtedly a key player in the next match against the Kiwis. Trent Boult The Kiwi speedster hasn't been in top form during the tournament, making him appear as a somewhat risky choice. However, if New Zealand ends up bowling second, Trent Boult could become a crucial player for them. He grabbed 13 wickets from 9 games. Final Words India is unbeaten in this ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023. Although New Zealand has a better record in the knockout stage, India has the home ground advantage. So, India is likely to win this IND vs NZ match.  Read more: Bangladesh's Overall Performance Analysis in the ICC World Cup 2023