South Africa will have to shed their burden of history and perform out of their
skin to halt the unstoppable march of Australia as the two teams square off in
an epic semifinal showdown of the cricket World Cup tomorrow. 
Emotions will run high as world's top two cricketing nation once again slug
it out for a place in the finals.
South Africa had grabbed the number one ranking from the Australians
last month; chased down 434 at the Wanderers last year and will be now on a
mission impossible to stop Australia's winning run of 26 matches.
But history is against the Proteas. They have twice reached
the semifinals of the World Cup before but were unlucky to lose on both occasions,
rather dramatically.
In 1992, a flawed rain rule did a miracle for England and ruthlessly snatched
a certain victory from the South African hands. While chasing 252, a rain interruption
turned the equation upside down for South Africa. Their gettable target of 22
from 13 balls was revised to 22 from one ball.
The 1999 tied semifinal against Steve Waugh's Australia at
Edgbaston will still be fresh in the memories of at least four players Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Herschelle Gibbs
-- who were part of that epic encounter, rated as one of the best one-dayers
ever.
In a match of fluctuating fortunes, South Africa needed nine
runs in the last over with one wicket in hand, but Allan Donald's run
out tied the match. Australia scraped their way to the finals on account of
their another back-to-wall win against South Africa in the Super six.
Harsh words are exchanged and psychological warfare extended when the two sides
meet and it's no exception this time around.
"The 1999 game was a game in history. It doesn't get mentioned much within
the set-up," South African captain Graeme Smith said.
Australia's vice-captain Adam Gilchrist, however, would beg to differ.
"They will be even more determined given what seems to
be a bit of a curse at cricket World Cup. I am not so sure (if they are not
haunted by previous failures).
Australia had the upper hand in six of their past 10 games
against South Africa, including the pummeling they handed over to the Proteas
in their Group match in the World Cup.
Australia have reached the semi-finals without raising a sweat whereas Smith's
men have just about made it to the last four, after losing matches against Bangladesh
and New Zealand.
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