AP, Mirpur :Hashim Amla is all too aware that the performance of the India spinners will go a long way to deciding the World Twenty20 semi-final against South Africa today (Friday). The challenge posed by legspinner Amit Mishra and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who have each won two player-of-the-match awards so far in the tournament, compounds the threat already posed by India’s powerful batting lineup. India entered the World T20 in the midst of a form slump but have peaked at the right time, and are the only unbeaten team. South Africa also have a balanced lineup, including batsmen adept at playing spin, but will need to adjust quickly to the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium pitch, which has been playing slower and lower than the Chittagong wicket where the Proteas played their group games. “The wickets in Chittagong had a bit more pace and bounce,” Amla said ahead of the match. “There is a bit of a difference here and that’s something we’ll have to look out for.” Also, while India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is in line to hold all three ICC titles simultaneously since he led the team to the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy, South Africa have always faltered at the knockout stage in big tournaments. Yuvraj Singh’s 43-ball 60 against Australia also gives confidence to Dhoni since the left-hander can decimate any bowling on his day. Yuvraj, who missed a practice session Wednesday after a foot injury sustained during a football session, was hoping to also chip in with the ball despite the presence of another left-arm spinner in Ravindra Jadeja. “The pitch has helped spinners more as the tournament has progressed,” Yuvraj said. “The wicket has been slow and I’m working hard on my bowling as well.” South Africa legspinner Imran Tahir, who has bagged 11 wickets in the tournament and has taken tips from Shane Warne, faces his biggest challenge in the tournament against the likes of Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni. South Africa’s bowlers put up superb efforts to ensure two wins against New Zealand and the Netherlands and allrouner J.P. Duminy hopes the team can repeat the performance against the 2007 champion. “The ways to win a game out of nothing is definitely something we will take confidence from,” Duminy said. “But this is a new game It’s a big game – the semi-final of a World Cup. It doesn’t get bigger than this.”
