South African captain Temba Bavuma has confirmed that the Proteas have devised specific plans to neutralize Kane Williamson in their crucial Champions Trophy semi-final against New Zealand. With the knockout clash set for Wednesday at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Bavuma acknowledged Williamson’s dominance against South Africa but expressed confidence in his team’s approach. Williamson has been a constant headache for the Proteas, amassing 803 runs in 18 ODIs against them at an impressive average of 57.35. Last month, he further solidified his reputation with a stunning 133* in a Tri-Series match, guiding New Zealand to a comfortable chase of 305. Bavuma, however, believes that South Africa is prepared this time. Bavuma said in the pre-match press conference, “We have specific plans to counter him. I won’t reveal them now, but we know we have to be sharp and take every opportunity that comes our way. Players like him demand extra focus, and we are ready for that challenge.” The Proteas, who topped Group B with five points, remain unbeaten in the tournament. Their bowling unit, spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, has shown great form, and Bavuma is counting on them to execute their plans effectively against Williamson and the rest of the Kiwi batting lineup. Read also: Gambhir on KL Rahul’s Batting Order: ‘It’s About Team Impact’ Proteas Focused on the Semi-Final, Not Overthinking the Pressure While the high-stakes match could determine South Africa’s first-ever major ICC title, Bavuma stressed that his team is treating the semi-final like any other match. The Proteas have historically faltered in knockout games, leading to the infamous ‘chokers’ tag. However, Bavuma is determined to keep his team composed. He said, “We are sticking to our process. It’s just another game, and we don’t want to make it bigger than it already is. New Zealand is a tough opponent, but we will focus on executing our skills.” Meanwhile, the Proteas received a boost with Aiden Markram recovering from injury and set to feature in the game. On the other hand, New Zealand faces a selection dilemma, with Conway and Daryl Mitchell struggling for form. The stage is set for a thrilling semi-final, with both teams aiming for a spot in the final against India in Dubai.