New Zealand, South Africa eye end to years of pain

AUCKLAND: New Zealand and South Africa clash in the World Cup semi-finals at Auckland´s Eden Park on Tuesday hoping to end years of pain and near-misses.

Both sides, who between them have appeared in nine semi-finals without reaching the final, have met expectations by making the last four.

Lying in wait will be the winner of Thursday´s second semi-final in Sydney between India, defending the title they won in 2011, and Australia, who lifted the three preceding World Cups.

New Zealand have lost all six of their previous World Cup semi-finals, with South Africa falling at the same hurdle on three occasions.

But New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said he did not expect either side to be weighed down by past failures.

"I don´t think there´s any baggage with anyone," he insisted. "It´s a one-off game and we´re all desperate to be at the big party and I´m sure we´ll both turn up.

"Two sides are playing good cricket and it´s going to be a heck of a show."

Their one common opponent in the tournament has been the West Indies, who South Africa clobbered in pool play by 257 runs after batting first and posting 408 for five.

New Zealand beat the West Indies by 143 runs in a Wellington quarter-final on Saturday after scoring 393 for six on the back of Martin Guptill´s World Cup record 237 not out .

South Africa emerged from their quarter-final against Sri Lanka with an overwhelming nine-wicket victory as they moved to dispel talk they are "chokers".
Afterwards, defiant Proteas skipper AB de Villiers said: "I think we like being called chokers. We´ll just keep that tag and move along, as long as we keep winning."

And the star batsman was adamant that, whatever else happened, his side would not crack under pressure.

"We are committed to the fact that we´re not going to show any weakness," he said.

Proteas leg-spinner Imran Tahir´s four for 26 against Sri Lanka should raise a red flag for New Zealand´s talismanic opener and captain Brendon McCullum, whose swash-buckling reputation carries a postscript that he is vulnerable to leggies. (AFP)