We’re used to underdogs tag, in same boat as South Africa: Santner

Kolkata: New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has shrugged off the underdog tag, declaring both teams “in the same boat” as the Black Caps prepare to face undefeated South Africa for a spot in the T20 World Cup final.

South Africa have looked the most complete side in this edition of the tournament. After being stretched to two Super Overs by Afghanistan earlier in the competition, the Proteas have racked up seven wins on the trot, including a group-stage victory over New Zealand in Ahmedabad, to enter the last-four as the only unbeaten team.

New Zealand’s journey has been turbulent as a washout against Pakistan in the Super Eights and a defeat to England left them with little margin for error, and their qualification eventually hinged on net run rate. “South Africa look like a very good outfit, as they’ve shown and I guess they’re in the same boat as us,” Santner said on the eve of the semifinal at Eden Gardens. Now it’s one game in here until the final you know, and it’ll be the same for India and England (in the second semifinal at Wankhede on Thursday).”

New Zealand’s only ICC titles remain the World Test Championship crown and the 2000 Champions Trophy triumph, but their consistency at global events is noteworthy.

This is their fourth T20 World Cup semifinal appearance -- after 2007, 2016 and 2022 -- while they have twice finished runners-up in ODI World Cups (2015 and 2019).

Santner acknowledged that his team is familiar with being dubbed as underdogs.

“We are kind of used to the tag now. It’s whether you want to call it the underdogs or not. I think for us, it’s everyone’s goal that throughout the tournament to get to the stage. We’re here now, and we back ourselves to adapt as quick as we can to what’s in front of us.”

“I think at this stage, it’s just knockout game, and that’s it at the end of the day, and whoever really turns up is going to get through,” he added.

The left-arm spinner underlined that controlling South Africa’s explosive batting would be central to their plans. “There’s no real hiding, or secrets about what South africa are going to bring and they probably know what we do as well.”