On Thursday night the Proteas booked their spot in the last four of the quadrennial event by stunning the much more fancied Blacksticks of New Zealand with a 4-3 win.

Matthew Guise-Brown scored a brace, while Keenan Horne and Connor Beauchamp also hit the backboard in South Africa's historic win.

South Africa also needed Australia to beat Pakistan in order to advance, and the team from down-under did with a 7-0 victory.

Proteas captain, Tim Drummond, said it was a big win for them.

“I'm really proud of the team," said Drummond.

“I think we played a good one and we probably let them in a little bit, but they are a good side. They are really experienced at this level, so it was brilliant to get this result.

“It's a big one because it's taken us into the knockout round which is a big step up for us. It's really exciting and a big step for us.”

Meanwhile, the Proteas Women face Kenya on Friday in the 7th and 8th place playoff.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport