Australia vs South Africa Cricket World Cup Semifinal Prediction & Picks: Will the Proteas Finally Put Horrid History Behind Them to Reach First Final?

One spot in the final of the 2023 Cricket World Cup is now accounted for, as India continued a perfect run through the tournament by defending a massive total against New Zealand in Mumbai. But who will the tournament hosts face for all of the marbles on Sunday? Australia and South Africa will decide that at Eden Gardens in Kolkata (3:30 am ET, ESPN+).

With their 70-run win over New Zealand, India denied the Blackcaps a third straight final appearance. In the process, they also became the fourth straight tournament host to reach the final of the ODI World Cup, joining themselves in 2011, co-hosts Australia and New Zealand in 2015, and England in 2019.

In the second semifinal, five-time World Cup champions Australia will be looking to extend their record and make the final for the eighth time. The Proteas, however, are still looking for their first appearance in the final of either the ODI World Cup or the T20 World Cup.

Will South Africa finally cross that hurdle and book a date with India, or will they find a new way to go home brokenhearted?

Australia vs South Africa Odds

Odds are courtesy of Bovada.

Moneyline

• Australia -140
• South Africa +115

Australia Aim to Continue Stunning Revival

Through their first two matches of this tournament, it looked like Australia was on course to miss out on the semifinals.

In their World Cup opener, they were no match for India, who won by six wickets in Chennai. Then, in their second match, they lost to South Africa by 134 runs in Lucknow.

But they haven’t lost since falling to the Proteas, and their terrific turnaround saw them finish third behind India and South Africa in the group stage standings.

Along the way, Australia squeaked past rivals New Zealand by five runs in a match that featured a combined 771 runs, overcome a tricky position to see off England by 33 runs, and get an extraordinary double century by Glenn Maxwell to defeat Afghanistan after being 91 for 7 in the 19th over.

2023 Cricket World Cup Results for Australia

• India: lost by six wickets
• South Africa: lost by 134 runs
• Sri Lanka: won by five wickets
• Pakistan: won by 62 runs
• Netherlands: won by 309 runs
• New Zealand: won by five runs
• England: won by 33 runs
• Afghanistan: won by three wickets
• Bangladesh: won by eight wickets

Now they have a chance to win the World Cup for the sixth time and avenge their two tournament losses in the process, starting with South Africa in the semifinals.

Along with being able to avenge their group stage defeat, Australia have the chance to inflict more semifinal heartache on South Africa.

The Proteas were poor with the bat in an upset loss to the Netherlands and poor with both the bat and ball in a heavy loss to India, but they were otherwise mostly excellent in the group stage and scored several comprehensive wins.

2023 Cricket World Cup Results for South Africa

• Sri Lanka: won by 102 runs
• Australia: won by 134 runs
• Netherlands: lost by 38 runs
• England: won by 229 runs
• Bangladesh: won by 149 runs
• Pakistan: won by one wicket
• New Zealand: won by 190 runs
• India: lost by 243 runs
• Afghanistan: won by five wickets

Now comes the hard part.

When the Proteas participated in the Cricket World Cup for the first time in 1992, they were one of eight teams that were considered Full Members of the International Cricket Council at the time.

For all of the stars that have played for the Proteas in the years since, they remain the only team of that bunch to not reach at least one ODI World Cup or T20 World Cup final, and they and New Zealand are the only two teams to not win a title in either tournament.

In the ODI World Cup, South Africa have fallen at this hurdle four times, twice at the hands of Australia (1999 and 2007), once to England (1992), and once to New Zealand (2015).

Australia vs South Africa Prediction and Picks

Australia vs South Africa Prediction: South Africa to win

It is rather striking how different knockout results are for South Africa in cricket World Cups (six semifinals, zero wins) compared to what the Springboks have done in the Rugby World Cup (six semifinals, four wins, four titles).

At some point, the Proteas are going to have a breakthrough. Will it be this year? The title breakthrough may not be this year–India have been fantastic in the tournament and will be tough to take down in Sunday’s final–but I think they will finally scale the hurdle that has tripped them up time and again.

Australia vs South Africa Picks

South Africa ML (+115 at Bovada)

Australia’s turnaround after losing to India and South Africa is nothing short of impressive, but the Proteas have been the better team in this World Cup.

There’s certainly something to be said for history, but I’m basing this pick on what I have seen from each team in the tournament.

Quinton de Kock Over 32.5 Runs (-115 at Bovada)

De Kock, with 591 runs at an average of 73.87, is the tournament’s second-leading scorer behind India’s Virat Kohli, who now has 711 runs (at an average of 101.57) after scoring 117 against New Zealand.

In the group stage, de Kock recorded four centuries, including a 109 (in 106 balls) in the win over Australia.

Where to Bet on the 2023 Cricket World Cup

The 2023 Cricket World Cup will take place in India from October 5 to November 19, and you can place bets on Cricket World Cup odds at most reputable sports betting sites.

Some sportsbooks offer tournament winner odds and other futures, while some will also offer odds for every game of the tournament.

Here are some of the online sportsbooks that we recommend for betting on the 2023 Cricket World Cup:

• BetOnline
• BetUS
• Bovada
• MyBookie

If you don’t have an account at a book on this list, check out our in-depth reviews to help you determine if it is worth your interest and your betting funds. Happy betting, and please bet responsibly.